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I saw a demonstration yesterday where they were dry blowing cellulose in walls of new construction using the following method: A 1/4″ OPEN nylon mesh was stretched and stapled to the studs. Then a generous bead of construction adhesive was applied over the mesh throughout the total length of the stud. They flattened the adhesive with a putty knife to imbed the mesh onto the surface of the stud.
After the adhesive dried (1 hour), they slit the mesh about 4′ up and inserted a 2 1/2″ hose out of a Predator cellulose blower and blew the bottom 4′ and then turned the hose up and filled in the top 4′. The idea of the open mesh is that it lets most of the air out of the cavity so the cellulose packs tightly.
I was impressed at how dense it appeared to be and how tightly it filled around wires and electrical boxes. They claim 3 to 3 1/2 # / cu. ft. of fill. Has anyone used this particular method?? I would like to hear your opinions! Thanks…..
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I too have seen this method used. I wonder if it would settle?
*Matt, When cellulose is dense packed it is packed way beyond any ability to settle forever...Touch it yourself and you'll instantly see how firm an installation it is...I could be wrong but I'm not worried about settling of cels.Near the stream,J
*How proprietary is this approach? Put more directly, how hard would it be to imitate with any mesh-of-convenience? One of the annoying thing about cellulose is putting all them little holes in brand new wall.Incidentally, when I used a 1/4" piece of plexiglas to enclose a stud bay, every square inch got stuffed. As long as the air can escape from several points along the perimeter I think it goes it pretty firm.
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used to work for for insulation contractor during the recession {only work i could find) had 1 contractor we did work for - he would drill holes in the sheathing before and rock or siding went on - then he would sheetrock and we would come and blow the cel from the outside then install the siding - this worked great didn't miss any small areas - did this on all his work old and new tom
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You guys are starting to sell me on cellulose. Seems like it would be cheap and good - my kind of material. Maybe when my tenent moves out of my duplex, I shall do her side in cellulose an compare the heating bills - as they would be almost identical. Still, she is going on 101 and still going strong, so it may be a while.
Dennis
*My money's on the tenant. Sounds like there's only one way she'll move (and wouldn't she appreciate nice warm walls now?).
*Not really a problem. Government pension, hot water heat with continuous baseboards and a new Burnham boiler I installed two summers ago. Replaced both boilers (they do heat the domestic water also) with the same size as the old ones. About 124,000 but/hr I believe for about 1000 ft sq. per side. Probably should have done some finer calculations as to what size was really needed. Tenent pays own utilities, but isn't really too bad. Maybe 110 per month electric and heat for a cozy 75 - 80 degrees.Dennis
*Ah good. I was worried you were trying to freeze her out. :)
*Don't worry too much about the boiler size. Oversizing is MUCH more of a performance and energy issue with forced air heat or A/C than radiant heat of any kind.
*I wonder how close this is to the "old fashioned" use of saw dust for insulation in arctic homes? I think they often installed it by layers as the walls were built(similiar effect to the above method). Seems to me cellulose is cellulose so should perform similiarly. Perhaps the new stuff will be more fire resistant and therefore be safer.Many of the old homes still around. They are warm, comfortable and have generally low utility bills. They are generally smaller than modern houses but are sure not airtight and normally have loosely fitted single pane windows. The biggest downside was their behavior in a fire. Very much like a log structure.Some of the modern cellulose I'm familiar with also had a fire hazard problem. Haven't kept up on the latest fire resisting additives but understand the fire problem has been addressed.Overall, cellulose and foam seem to be the insulators de jour. I'm for it as I break out in a rash even thinking about fibreglass.Oops, I've got to go scratch.
*I used a blown in insulation on a large remodel last year. I had never heard of it until I called around to get bids and one of the salesmen mentioned it. He gave me some literature (I always think propaganda) and I went to see a home they had recently done. I don't know if I would ever go back to batts.Here in Washington the process (maybe franchise) is called BIBS - blown in blanket. They did as you said, stapled a nylon 1/4" net on studs, poked holes with the snout of hose and blew in a cottonlike material (non-itchy) mixed with a bit of glue to keep it from settling. You can tell right away that the house is insulated better than batts. There is no echo at all, the house is simply tighter. How many hours have you spent trying to do a good job - especially in a remodeled house- cutting batts around pipes and irregular framing. When they blow this stuff in it displaces all the air in the cavity-imagine the sound deadening you can achieve around a fiberglass shower. The cost was about 15% higher than batts but I gotta believe it's worth it. I highly reccomend it and frankly I am astonished it is not more common. It is the most impressive thing I've seen since I switched from a six foot wooden ruler to a tape measure.
*Young Bob...Say hi to not so young Bob...your Dad?Great post about your experience with this alternative to leaky itchy fiberglass...I will be calling around my area for an installer...One question...Does it bulge out of the cavity at all affecting drywall installation?ThanksJYou're invited by the way to the fall fest, hope you can come...
*Jack- only problem with bulging was on an interior wall that they had to net both sides for. I think my installer had quite a bit of experience "...yeah, been doing this stuff for years, I'll do you a great job...hey-you ever need any help on weekends?..." but he still over blew a bit - the sheetrock hangers (is it ok to cuss on line like that?) wrote nasty messages on the rock but it wasn't that big a deal.Now, what's this I hear about Canadians coming to this shin dig?
*Thanks YB...And yuppers, it's an international event atleast if not more.Come on over???? Where're you from?To the mailbox and back tonight,J
*Jack,"...it's an international event at least if not more."What would more that international be? Is it kin to "better than plumb"? :)Rich Beckman
*Rich,as I often think in terms of "On the Planet" I thought all could figure this one....alians...?Near the stream,J
*The Bay State originally - have lived in Washington since 1977. Have you ever been out this way? I am still in awe of the landscape here, I guess it's where I'm supposed to be. I guess there'll be aliens enough if you encourage canadians. 54.40 or bust!
*YB,A tour from SF up to the Canadian border is on the slate for a day soon to arive...Have been to S Cal many times hang gliding at Torrey Pines and around LA from the mountains that hold their smog in...Can't wait to jump off of El Capitan!Near the stream,J
*I'll be darned. Years ago I took my daughter gliding off Torrey Pines with a winch lift. Neat ride.Dennis
*Over the years Torrey Pines which is also the cliffs over the infamous "Blacks Beach" (mostly nude men) has been the site of sailplanes, radio control planes, hang gliders, and now paragliders...And it's near a great college, golf course, beautiful cliffside homes, a park, another normal beach, and the Salk Institute...And huge traffic on the main highway during rush hour....Oh and my baby sister lives nearby.Near the stream,J
*RichThat would beb Better'n Plumb
*Orthopedic shoes. (I stand corrected). : )Rich Beckman
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I saw a demonstration yesterday where they were dry blowing cellulose in walls of new construction using the following method: A 1/4" OPEN nylon mesh was stretched and stapled to the studs. Then a generous bead of construction adhesive was applied over the mesh throughout the total length of the stud. They flattened the adhesive with a putty knife to imbed the mesh onto the surface of the stud.
After the adhesive dried (1 hour), they slit the mesh about 4' up and inserted a 2 1/2" hose out of a Predator cellulose blower and blew the bottom 4' and then turned the hose up and filled in the top 4'. The idea of the open mesh is that it lets most of the air out of the cavity so the cellulose packs tightly.
I was impressed at how dense it appeared to be and how tightly it filled around wires and electrical boxes. They claim 3 to 3 1/2 # / cu. ft. of fill. Has anyone used this particular method?? I would like to hear your opinions! Thanks.....