Shotguns, cottages and bungalows
Wall Insulation for Older Homes in New Orleans, LA
Filling walls that were built empty, without tearing up the plaster.
- Free on-site estimates
- Itemized written quotes with material, depth and R-value
- Under-floor, attic and moisture problems checked first
Empty Walls, Tall Rooms
Wall insulation for older homes is a big part of our work in New Orleans. Shotgun houses, Creole cottages and early bungalows were built before insulation was standard. Many have board walls, plaster on lath, or old drywall over empty cavities. Tall ceilings mean a lot of wall area per room, and in a narrow shotgun the side walls are most of the outside of the house.
Finished walls: dense-pack
For walls you want to keep, dense-pack cellulose is the usual answer. We drill small holes, either from inside or from outside under a lifted board, and blow cellulose into each cavity at high density so it fills the space and stays put. HomeGuide lists dense-pack at $1.60 to $4.20 per square foot. Blocking, fire stops and old wiring affect where holes go, so we check each wall before quoting.
Gutted walls: foam
If walls are open for renovation or flood repair, spray foam is fast and seals around everything. Louisiana's code summary lists R-13 for wood-frame walls in zone 2. Closed-cell in the lower part of a wall does not soak up water the way batts do, which means less to tear out if water comes back. Open-cell is fine higher up.
Wiring
Knob-and-tube wiring is still found in some older homes. It should be checked by an electrician before any insulation is packed around it. If we see it, we tell you before we go further.
Exterior work in historic districts
Insulating from inside usually changes nothing outside. If we plan to drill from the exterior in a historic district, check with the Historic District Landmarks Commission or the Vieux Carre Commission first, since exterior changes there can need review. We can work from inside instead if that is simpler. Get a free estimate
Wall Work
How we fill walls in older houses.
Dense-pack from inside
Small holes in plaster or drywall, filled and patched.
Dense-pack from outside
Holes under lifted siding boards, then boards replaced.
Foam in gutted walls
Open-cell or closed-cell in exposed studs.
Wall tops sealed
Plugging open tops of wall cavities from the attic.
Camelback walls
Insulating the second-story walls of camelback houses.
Published Wall Insulation Costs
| Job | Range and source |
|---|---|
| Spray foam, existing walls | $3.15 to $7.50 per sq ft (Fixr) |
| Spray foam, new construction / open studs | $2.75 to $6.50 per sq ft (Fixr) |
| All exterior walls, spray foam | $4,000 to $10,000 (HomeGuide) |
| Blown-in exterior walls | $1,900 to $7,800, $1.10 to $3.70 per sq ft (HomeGuide); $2,000 to $4,000 (Fixr) |
| Dense-pack cellulose | $1.60 to $4.20 per sq ft (HomeGuide) |
| Open-cell / closed-cell | $1.50 to $3.50 / $3.00 to $5.00 per sq ft (HomeGuide) |
HomeGuide (2025 and 2026) and Fixr (2025) publish these national ranges. Plaster versus drywall, siding type, wall height and patching all change the cost. We price your walls after a look, and the written estimate is the price.
How Wall Work Goes
1. Probe the walls
Check what is inside, where blocking is, and the wiring.
2. Quote
Method, R-value and price by wall.
3. Drill or prep
Mark and drill holes, or mask for foam.
4. Fill
Dense-pack each cavity or spray open studs.
5. Patch
Plug holes and patch as agreed.
Why Choose Us for Wall Insulation for Older Homes
Plaster stays
We fill walls without tearing them out.
Wiring flagged
Old wiring is pointed out before anything is packed around it.
Inside or outside
We choose the side that suits your house and its rules.
Wall Insulation for Older Homes Questions
Can you insulate a shotgun house without tearing out walls?
Usually, with dense-pack cellulose through small holes, from inside or outside.
Will dense-pack settle over time?
Packed at proper density it should not settle much. Loose blowing into walls is what settles.
Do I need HDLC approval to insulate walls?
Work done from inside usually does not change the exterior. If holes are drilled outside in a historic district, check with the HDLC or VCC first.
Is wall insulation worth it if I already did the attic?
In a shotgun, the side walls are most of the exterior, so yes, they are often the next step.
Does wall insulation help with street noise?
Dense-pack cellulose fills the cavity and dampens some sound. Windows and doors still carry most of the noise.
Wall Insulation for Older Homes Service Areas
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Get a Wall Insulation for Older Homes Estimate
Thinking about the walls in an older house? We will look and send a written price.