Retrofit Wall Insulation

Wall Insulation Glendale

Your walls might be empty. Seriously. Most older Glendale homes have nothing but air between the studs. We'll fill those cavities without tearing your house apart.

Why Your Walls Are Costing You Money

Here's something most folks don't realize: exterior walls can account for up to 35% of your home's heat loss. That's a lot of wasted energy. And if your Glendale home was built before 1980? There's a good chance your walls have zero insulation. Just empty space between the studs.

We see it all the time in Rossmoyne, Verdugo Woodlands, and Sparr Heights. Beautiful Spanish bungalows and craftsman homes with walls that are doing nothing to keep heat in or out. Great bones, terrible energy performance.

The good news? We don't have to tear anything apart. Modern retrofit techniques let us fill those empty wall cavities through small holes that we patch up when we're done. It's not rocket science, but it does take the right equipment and know-how.

Our Solutions

How We Insulate Existing Walls

Three ways to get insulation into your walls without tearing them down.

Drill and Fill Insulation

This is our bread and butter. We drill small holes (1-2 inches) through your siding or drywall, then blow dense-pack cellulose into the wall cavity until it's completely full. Simple, effective, and we're usually done in a day or two.

  • Holes are patched and nearly invisible when we're done
  • Dense-pack cellulose hits R-3.5 to R-3.7 per inch
  • We can go from outside or inside - whatever works best for your home
  • Most jobs take 1-2 days
  • Fire-retardant and pest-resistant options available

Injection Foam Insulation

Want the best air sealing and thermal performance? Injection foam's your answer. We pump it into the wall cavity where it expands to fill every gap, crack, and weird void. You get insulation AND an air barrier in one shot.

  • Slow-rise foam expands to fill irregular cavities - great for older homes
  • Stops drafts cold. Air can't get through.
  • Higher R-value per inch than blown-in (R-4.6 to R-5.0)
  • Works around pipes, wires, and other stuff in your walls
  • Water-resistant options for exterior walls

Exterior Access Method

Got wood siding? Stucco that needs work anyway? Planning to repaint? We can do everything from the outside. Your interior stays completely untouched - no moving furniture, no dust inside, no hassle.

  • Zero disruption inside your home
  • Perfect timing if you're already doing siding or stucco work
  • Works with blown-in or injection foam
  • We match the patch to your existing siding color and texture
  • Great for occupied homes - you won't even know we're there
What to Expect

What Makes Wall Insulation Tricky

It's not always straightforward. Here's what we're dealing with.

Stuff Inside Your Walls

New construction? Easy - insulation goes in before the walls close up. Retrofit? We're working around fire blocking, wiring, pipes, and sometimes decades of random debris. We use borescopes and thermal cameras to see what's in there, and sometimes need extra holes to get full coverage. It's detective work.

Your Siding Type Matters

Stucco's tricky - we have to drill and patch carefully so it doesn't look obvious. Wood siding? We can pop pieces off for access. Vinyl or aluminum is easiest - individual pieces come right off and snap back on. We'll figure out the best approach when we come out for the estimate.

Keeping Moisture Out

Walls can trap moisture if you're not careful. We check vapor barriers and drainage before insulating anything. For the stucco homes you see all over Glendale, La Crescenta, and Montrose, we often recommend injection foam or borate-treated cellulose. Both handle moisture way better than standard fiberglass.

Getting It Completely Filled

The last thing you want is insulation that settles and leaves gaps at the top. That's why we dense-pack to 3.5+ pounds per cubic foot - packed tight enough that it's not going anywhere. Injection foam? It expands to fill everything. No settling, period.

Is It Right for You?

When Wall Insulation Is Worth It

It's not for everyone. Here's when it really pays off.

Your Walls Are Empty

No insulation at all? That's actually the best case for us. Most pre-1980 homes in Glendale, La Canada, and Verdugo Woodlands have empty walls. You could see 15-25% energy savings. That's not a typo.

Some Rooms Are Always Uncomfortable

That bedroom that's always hot in summer? The living room that won't warm up in winter? If it's on an exterior wall - especially facing south or west - the wall's probably the problem. Insulation creates a thermal break. Huge difference.

You're Already Doing Exterior Work

Replacing siding? Getting stucco fixed? Perfect time to add wall insulation. We can piggyback on the project and save you money on patching. Smart timing.

Your Attic's Already Done

Got R-38 or better in the attic? Nice. Walls are your next biggest win. Complete the thermal envelope and you'll really feel the difference.

Street Noise Is Driving You Crazy

Traffic on Brand Boulevard. Neighbors. Planes heading into Burbank Airport. Dense-pack cellulose and injection foam don't just insulate - they're great soundproofing. Your home gets noticeably quieter.

You're Staying Put

Wall insulation pays off over time. If you're planning to stay 5+ years, you'll more than make back your investment through energy savings. Plus you get to enjoy the comfort every day.

Why So Many Glendale Homes Have Empty Walls

It's not that builders were lazy. They just didn't have to insulate. Here's the history:

  • Pre-1950s: Nobody insulated walls in California. Period. Those beautiful Rossmoyne bungalows? Empty walls.
  • 1950s-1970s: Some builders added a little insulation. Most didn't bother. Energy was cheap.
  • 1978 and later: Title 24 finally required wall insulation, but the requirements were pretty weak.

So if you've got a 1940s craftsman in Glenoaks Canyon, a 1960s ranch in Adams Hill, or a 1970s split-level near Montecito Park - there's a good chance those walls are empty. Glendale temperatures swing from the 40s to over 100. That's a lot of energy loss through walls that are doing absolutely nothing.

Different home styles need different approaches:

  • Spanish Revival and Mediterranean: Thick stucco needs careful drilling and skilled patching. We've done hundreds of these.
  • Craftsman bungalows: Wood siding pops off easily. Plaster walls? We go from inside.
  • Ranch-style: Usually the easiest. Good access, straightforward layout.
  • Mid-century modern: All those windows mean less wall to insulate, but the walls that exist still matter.
How It Works

How We Do It

Four steps from start to finish. No surprises.

We Check Your Walls

Thermal camera shows us exactly what's there. Or not there. We'll also look for obstructions and figure out the best access points.

You Get a Real Quote

Based on your siding, wall construction, and what makes sense for your situation. Detailed pricing, no hidden fees.

We Install the Insulation

Drill, fill, verify. We check with the thermal camera to make sure we got everything. Voids don't fly.

We Patch and Clean Up

Every hole gets patched to match. Stucco, siding, drywall - whatever you've got. We don't leave until you're happy.

Common Questions

Wall Insulation FAQs

Want to Know If Your Walls Are Empty?

We'll come out with our thermal camera and show you exactly what's going on. Free assessment, no pressure. If wall insulation makes sense for your home, we'll tell you. If it doesn't, we'll tell you that too.

Schedule Free AssessmentCall (747) 944-9084