I own a 100+ year old brick home. It has become apparent we have NO insulation in the walls and loose fill cellulose in the attic. Interior walls are lathe and plaster. I would like to insulate and have thought about blown in insulation but I am concerned that without a vapor barrier the insulation will become damp and loose it's value. My other concern with that is if it gets damp will cellulose insul. mold and cause healthful problems? What is the best way to address my insulation needs? I live in Wisconsin, it gets cold here. Options/Concerns: Cellulose blown into wall cavities- no vapor barrier. Will it last. Will it mold? Spray in foam- cost? ????? I have recently heard of a vapor barrier paint for interior walls, is that an option to consider for cellulose? YOur thoughts and help are very much appreciated.
Jeff

We recently purchased a 100+ year old double bricked home in Michigan with the same problem. The interior walls are plaster/lathed directly against the brick with no insulation in between. We're quite cold. Fortunately, we have blown in insulation in the attic that is functioning. My brother-in-law, who is a home inspector and formerly owned an HVAC business, said the best way to insulate our kind of home is to install 1 inch urethane board (the blue kind) directly against the walls and then drywall over that. He said anything else is a waste of money. Good luck.

My home was built in 1960 and I have the same problem. How can I tell if there is mold in the walls already. I am having a guy come over to blow insulation inthe attic. If there is already mold in the walls then what good would that blue board do? Install 1 inch urethane board (the blue kind) directly against the walls and then drywall over that. That will insulate the inside but what about the current walls that are there? Do I need to build new walls? So confused.

Your conversation is interesting. I have a double shell brick house in Michigan built in 1893. I have been working on insulating for the past months and I am not insulating the exterior walls at this time because I don't think its worth the cost and effort. There are lots of fun things to fix though that are helping a LOT, like sealing air leaks in the foundation rims, also in the crawlspaces and attic, and adding caulked-in foam board and fiberglass at the ends of joists. Sealing big air leaks in these old houses is the number one way of reducing heat loss.

I am also looking into installing a new boiler that is 95% efficient (Baxi) to replace my 20-year-old 75% efficient boiler that burns INTERIOR air and sends 300 degree exhaust up the chimney.

I am unsure of how to insulate my old brick house. The second floor and floor of attic have celluose blown-in insulation. It is quite warm upstairs in the winter. (I live in PA). The first floor has no wall insulation, there are drafts and my heat bill is very high.
A insulation 'specialist' feels my best way to go in the spray in foam thru holes on the exterior of the house. He also feels that I would benefit just as much from insulating the ceiling of the unfinished attic.
I am having new windows put in the first floor, but the first few that are in still had drafts last winter.
Any/all suggestions are appreciated!