What to Expect When Insulating Walls in an Old House

Living in an older Charlotte home often means dealing with beautiful architecture… and drafty, uneven temperatures. Whether you’re in a 1940s bungalow in Dilworth or a turn-of-the-century craftsman near Plaza Midwood, outdated wall insulation—or none at all—can make your home uncomfortable and inefficient.

At Standard Insulating Company, we specialize in retrofitting insulation for old and historic homes across the Charlotte region. The good news? You don’t have to gut your walls to get the benefits of modern insulation. With the right approach, you can improve comfort, reduce energy bills, and preserve your home’s original charm.

Why Wall Insulation Matters in Older Homes

Many homes built before the 1980s were constructed with little to no insulation in the exterior walls. In some cases, homes relied solely on plaster, lath, or basic sheathing to buffer Charlotte’s temperature swings.

• Your walls leak heat in winter and absorb heat in summer.
• You might feel cold drafts near exterior walls or rooms that are always hotter than others.
• Heating and cooling systems have to work harder to keep up.

Proper wall insulation acts like a thermal blanket for your entire home—especially important in Charlotte’s hot, humid summers and chilly winter mornings.

Signs Your Old Walls Need Insulation

• Rooms that are consistently too hot or too cold
• Cold walls during winter
• Musty smells or visible drafts near outlets
• High energy bills even after HVAC upgrades

If your home was built before 1980 and hasn’t had an insulation retrofit, odds are good your walls are underperforming.

How We Insulate Old Walls Without Tearing Them Out

You don’t need to demo your interior. We use injection techniques that allow us to insulate your walls from the outside, with minimal disruption.

Our process:

1. Inspection: We identify cavities that are empty or under-insulated.
2. Small Access Points: We remove a row of siding or cut small holes in interior drywall or plaster (depending on the situation).
3. Dense-Pack Cellulose or Fiberglass Injection: Material is blown into the wall cavity using special equipment that fills gaps and voids without settling over time.
4. Sealing and Patching: We restore wall surfaces, matching finishes and preserving aesthetics.

In most cases, the work is done in a day or two, and your home looks untouched—but feels totally different.

Best Insulation Materials for Older Charlotte Homes

We choose materials that balance performance with moisture control—critical in Charlotte’s humid climate.

• Dense-Pack Cellulose: Great for filling irregular wall cavities. Treated with fire- and mold-resistant borates.
• Blown-In Fiberglass: Non-settling, air-permeable option for dry wall systems.
• Closed-Cell Spray Foam (select cases only): Excellent for sealing small access panels or crawl walls where vapor and air control is critical.

We never recommend traditional batt insulation for wall retrofits—it can sag, leave gaps, and doesn’t perform well in enclosed spaces.

What About Historic Homes?

If you own a historic home in Charlotte, we understand the added care and code compliance needed. Our team:

• Avoids damage to original woodwork or plaster
• Matches siding when drilling from the exterior
• Coordinates with historic commissions if required

We help homeowners stay true to their home’s era while dramatically improving energy performance.

How Much Can You Save?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating walls, attics, and floors in an under-insulated home can cut heating and cooling costs by up to 15%.

In our experience, many Charlotte homeowners with uninsulated walls see:

• Utility bills drop by $200–$500/year
• Rooms that no longer feel like saunas or refrigerators
• Reduced wear on HVAC systems, extending equipment life

Don’t Forget Air Sealing

Wall insulation works best when paired with proper air sealing. We look for:

• Gaps around window frames and baseboards
• Electrical outlet penetrations
• Plumbing and wiring holes

Stopping these leaks ensures your new insulation delivers maximum value.