Our house is a 100 yr old Dutch Colonial. The first floor is of decorative block construction, the second is framed and faced with brick. Getting the blown cellulose into the second floor walls was doable, but the first floor.... not much could be done with it. I could gut the walls, put 1" pink board in between the furring strips that are attached to the block, and put up the drywall and everything else, or give spray foam a try. The idea of no destroying the house, sealing off air leaks, drafts, and getting some R value around all the door and window frames as well as behind the plaster was a great one, yet I seemed somewhat unknown with different people I spoke with. I went for it. I drilled 5/8" holes at a 45 degree angle spaced every two feet upward and in between all the different furring strips. I drilled into the empty voids behind the window and door frame the same way. I took 7/16" hose, and fed them down each hole to back fill the cavity with foam. Quickly covered with duct tape and went to the next. By the time I got to the end of the wall, I started the next row of holes, and etc. In the end it worked EXCELLENT. Once dry, i carved just a bit of cured foam out of each hole and filled with low shrinkage joint compound, and paint. DONE.

Benefits? I didn't have to destroy the house to insulate, didn't have to remove trim, kitchen cupboards, etc. I sealed off the drafts behind the plaster walls and filled the large voids around the windows and doors. Its faster, not too messy once you get things in rhythm, and gives the best R value I can get with how those walls are built. When we feel the walls in the house now in these cold fall mornings, we can tell there is a difference, and for that, i am very happy. Thank you!!!

Dan B.