I’ve seen that too—random junk stuffed behind walls, like someone’s lunch break leftovers are now part of the house. Drives me nuts. Honestly, I almost trust older homes more for that reason. At least you can spot what’s wrong and fix it, instead of guessing what’s hidden behind “new” drywall. And the half-done spray foam jobs... yikes. I once found a spot where they just sprayed around a pipe and called it good. Makes you wonder if they even cared about air leaks or just wanted to clock out early.
I once opened up a wall in a “fully renovated” place and found a collection of soda cans, half a sandwich wrapper, and some mystery socks. You’re right, with older homes at least you know what you’re getting into—bad wiring is obvious, not hidden behind a fresh coat of paint. The spray foam shortcuts always crack me up... like they thought air only leaks in straight lines. You’d think insulation was some kind of timed event the way some crews rush it.
You nailed it about the shortcuts—I've seen insulation jobs where they just blast foam in the obvious gaps and call it a day. Drives me nuts, honestly. Rushed work always comes back to haunt you, especially with energy bills. In my experience, a proper insulation job takes time because every nook and cranny matters. Cutting corners might save a day or two upfront, but you end up paying for it later, either in repairs or lost efficiency. It's wild how some folks think a fresh coat of paint or new drywall hides everything... but the problems always find a way out.
- 100% agree, shortcuts are a nightmare long-term.
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Couldn’t have said it better.“Rushed work always comes back to haunt you, especially with energy bills.”
- I’ve seen folks try to “fix” cold rooms by just adding more foam, but if you miss the tiny leaks around outlets or rim joists, you’re still losing heat.
- Curious—has anyone here actually opened up a wall years later and found insulation gaps? I’ve seen some wild stuff behind drywall...
I’ve definitely seen insulation gaps after a few years—sometimes it’s like the installer just gave up halfway through. The worst is when you find a whole section behind drywall with barely any coverage, especially around electrical boxes or rim joists. People underestimate how much those little gaps add up. Honestly, I’d rather spend an extra day sealing everything right than deal with drafts and high bills later. Quick fixes almost always backfire in my experience.