Can You Insulate Walls Without Tearing Down Existing Drywall?

This is a great question (and one we get from a lot of our clients). It may sound counterintuitive, but yes, absolutely! Existing walls, in old houses and new, can be insulated using a fantastic technology called "drill and fill." (You can learn more about how we use the drill and fill technique on our Insulation page.

Best Materials for Drill and Fill Insulation

Drill and fill insulation is installed by drilling a small access point (usually 1/2" to 2.5" in diameter), then injecting insulating material directly into the wall cavity. The best materials for the job are:

Cellulose insulation: Cellulose is typically made from recycled newsprint and comes in a loose fill form that is blown into wall cavities till it is densly packed. It provides great thermal resistance and is particularly well-suited to retrofits.
Open-cell or close-cell spray foam insulation: Spray foam insulation is applied as a liquid, which expands slowly in size and hardens to fill the space it's injected into. This slow rise allows spray foam insulation to fill even the tiniest cracks. It's particularly great for insulating spaces that you think may have air leaks (which we can help identify for you too).

The material chosen for your house simply depends on the nature of the project and what you're willing to spend in total. Fortunately, we are known for offering free estimates and being very transparent about project costs, so you can make an informed decision. We want to support you however we can!

After the job is complete, our installers will vacuum up the work area (no mess!) and install plugs. From there, you can patch the space, paint, and redecorate as you see fit.

Choosing Drill and Fill for Your Retrofit

Drill and fill is a great choice if you need to insulate your walls without tearing down existing drywall. We hope this news brings you a huge sigh of relief! You don't need to tear apart your existing walls to install new insulation. All you need is an expert who knows how to do drill and fill to do the job.