Exterior walls and attics must be insulated, as we all know. But, do interior walls need insulation? Interior wall insulation is the process of insulating the inside face of external walls. Many people believe that insulating interior walls is unnecessary, yet they can aid energy efficiency and soundproofing.
Moreover, not only it can help smoothen heat transfer between rooms, but also help with moisture control inside the room.
Yes, of course insulating the interior walls will bring some benefits eventually. But the real question is, do you need insulation in interior walls?
Well, to help you decide, let’s see the pros and cons of insulating interior walls.
Do Interior Walls Need Insulation: Pros and Cons
- Pros: Energy Saving
Insulation in the external walls and roof is well established to save energy by lowering reliance on conventional heating or cooling. However, insulating interior walls can indeed give a significant efficiency to the energy savings. With interior wall insulation you can create climatic zones within a room for more efficient cooling and heating inside your house.
Internal wall insulation will prevent heat or cool air from transferring into or out of the occupied room. You just need to close the unoccupied room’s door. This is significantly more efficient than trying to cool or heat the entire house artificially. It is an excellent approach to make a better energy efficiency.
- Pros: Sound Proofing
If you require a more tranquil living environment, then the interior wall insulation is needed. Sound transfer from room to room is reduced by insulating inner walls. It can act as a sound barrier, containing inside noises while muzzling undesirable outside noise better than just insulating external walls.
- Cons: Add Cost
Insulation in interior walls indeed needs an extra cost. The additional cost varies depending on the material you use for insulating interior walls. Generally, the interior wall insulation will cost in the range of $40 and $50 per m2, but it might cost more than $100 per m2 when a wall is already installed, including materials and installation.
- Cons: Minimize your room size
Another disadvantage in insulating the interior wall is it could take up more space in your room. The material used will eventually thicken your walls. Insulation boards can add up to 10cm to the thickness of your wall.
Best Insulation for Interior Walls
What is the most appropriate insulation for the interior wall will depend on the application, so you need to know better what you require.
If you need insulation that doesn’t take up too much space, you could use a rigid foam board. Yet this kind of insulation will take more of your budget because it is relatively more expensive.
If you want more breathable insulation, you can choose natural materials such as wood fiber or sheep’s wool. It is also considered more eco-friendly since less harmful substances are released from this type of insulation.
So, the answer to ‘do interior walls need insulation’ is dependent on your requirements and budgetary constraints.
