Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 07, 2000 07:38am | #1

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   Here are two issues as I understand them:

   You need a moisture barrier to keep warm moist air from condensing inside the wall There are ways to do it, but most require more inside work than maybe you are willing to bargain for. I have heard some nasty horror stories from the old house owners' community about added wall insulation causing water problems like rot or peeling exterior paint.

   Heat loss through conduction through the walls is usually less in old houses than loss due to infiltration. Sealing up cracks if you haven't already done so may go a much longer way in making the house more comfortable than just adding insulation. This has helped tremendously in my experiences. A blower door test can help decide whether this step is needed.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 07, 2000 11:35am | #2

   *You might want to read some over in the "Heating, Venting + Cooling" section. There are a lot of folks with strong opinions about blowing in cellulose here. You might even post this question in there, but there really has been a ton of discussion about this subject.

2. 
   Benjamin_Clough | Jan 08, 2000 12:24am | #3

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   I recently recommended to a customer that they have the exterior walls of thier hundred year old frame house insulated with blown paper fibre cellulose insulation. A local architect told them that our local histoiric preservation commision does not recommend the use of this product. My personal experience has been that although it is not the best solution to insulation that it is a cost effective way to reduce heating costs and increase comfort. Are there any hardcore reasons not to use it? Any horror stories?...