The Home Envelope | Insulation, Air Sealing and More

Nealon Insulation

The Home Envelope is your go-to podcast for making Connecticut homes more energy-efficient, comfortable, and quiet. Brought to you by Nealon Insulation, we cover attic upgrades, air sealing, wall insulation, and more—minus the jargon. Whether you're a homeowner or contractor, tune in for practical tips, expert advice, and real stories from across the CT shoreline.

  1. 12/19/2025

    Insulating Connecticut’s Historic Homes: What Works, What Fails, and Why

    Insulating a historic home is not a matter of doing “more” — it is a matter of doing it right. In this episode, we trace the evolution of insulation in Connecticut homes over the last century, from eelgrass and sawdust to modern R-values and airtight construction. Along the way, we explain why older houses behave differently than new builds, and why applying modern insulation methods without understanding historic building physics can lead to moisture damage, rot, and costly failures. You’ll learn how early Connecticut homes were designed to “breathe,” why sealing them like a modern house can backfire, and how professionals balance energy efficiency with preservation. We break down the role of air sealing, blower door testing, and material selection — including where cellulose and mineral wool shine, and why spray foam can be risky in historic structures. This episode also lays out a practical retrofit playbook: how to diagnose an old house before insulating, the correct sequence of upgrades, and when wall insulation should — or should not — be part of the plan. Whether you own a historic home, work in preservation, or simply want to understand why old houses require a different approach, this episode explains what works, what fails, and why getting it wrong can do more harm than good. #HistoricHomes #HistoricHomeInsulation #OldHouseCare #OldHouseRenovation #PreservationMatters #BuildingScience #EnergyEfficiency #HomePerformance #InsulationEducation #AirSealing #CelluloseInsulation #MineralWool #MoistureMatters #ConnecticutHomes #NewEnglandHomes #HomeImprovementPodcast #ConstructionPodcast

    12 min

About

The Home Envelope is your go-to podcast for making Connecticut homes more energy-efficient, comfortable, and quiet. Brought to you by Nealon Insulation, we cover attic upgrades, air sealing, wall insulation, and more—minus the jargon. Whether you're a homeowner or contractor, tune in for practical tips, expert advice, and real stories from across the CT shoreline.