How to Insulate an Adobe House? Good Questions

Q: We live in an adobe house and, contrary to popular belief, it is not particularly energy efficient. The "R value" is about 5 or 6. Short of wrapping the exterior of the house in insulation and re-stuccoing the whole exterior, is there anything we can do to improve efficiency? Is there insulating paint or anything?

- Posted by Jenny

We're fascinated by adobe ... and even more fascinated to learn it has such a low R value. We did a little research and, indeed, most experts recommend adding insulation to the outside of the home and re-stuccoing. We've heard of insulating paint, but know very little about it.

Anyone out there have thoughts on Jenny's dilemma?

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Comments (6)

This is a great question which I can't wait to find the answer to! We live in an older adobe house just outside Albuquerque and it gets COLD here in the winter! Not too thrilled about the idea of entirely replastering, either.

Don't let this *one* house ruin your opinion of adobe houses. My parents built, own, and have lived in one for almost ten years now and it *does* have a low R value. I'm guessing Jenny's house wasn't very well built, or isn't completely adobe. Many adobe homes have only 50% or less of the walls constructed in adobe. Either of those things would account for her issues.

I say don't do anything until you contact a professional who actually works with adobe on a regular basis. Some products can damage or weaken the bricks. There are plenty of professionals in New Mexico and Arizona. Ask an adobe pro.

If this is your house, an addition which features a trombe wall would be effective. One thing may be contributing to the cold is that there doesn't appear to be any airspace under your house. It appears to be built on a slab. Radiant heat flooring would be an option in that case. Both of these solutions would only be cost-effective if you owned the place.

I don't have a superb answer for you, but I would say be a little wary of what people refer to as insulating paints. Here's a little description (and thoughts on it):

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,20054788,00.html

If any one has some insulating words of wisdom for old (1880's) double brick homes with stucco exterior, plaster interior houses I would be all ears.

We live in SLC and though are walls are thick, two rows of brick, with stucco and plaster, in the late afternoon the walls radiate heat inside in the summer and are cool to the touch all winter making our heating bills higher then we prefer and making our un-air conditioned summers hot.

1" tongue and groove foam. I'm in the stucco business and that's what we recommend for added R value, we apply it under the stucco.