Replies

1. 
   frammer52 | Sep 21, 2008 03:44am | #1

   Some times enough is enough.  Pulling perfectly good insulation out, for wat, to tighten up 2%?  Little extreeme.

1. 
   RatherBBustinClays | Sep 22, 2008 04:44pm | #3

   Hello Framer,

   With all due respect I am looking for information from contractors who have used Icynene in a retro-fit or remodel.  Not a judgement as to whether taking out the cellouse is overkill.  Their home, their castle, is not comfortable.  Cellouse has served a purpose in the past.  However, technology has changed.  People no longer have to put up with the dust created by having cellouse in the attic.  Not to mention the mouse colonies.  The attic is just one piece of the puzzle.

1. 
   frammer52 | Sep 22, 2008 08:48pm | #4

   I beg to differ with you.  In th 70's I had foam installed in my house.  Would you like some of this?  It has turned to powder.  Any time you have a product installed outside of a factory, the ingredients have to be watched very carefully.

   I have installed an additional 12" of celulose in my attic and would do so again.  Mouse nests are not possible in cellulose as they are allergic to the poisen in it.  as far as dust, every old house in America has dust accumulating in their attic.  It is not the result of cellulose.

   Now as fare as creating a hot roof, I am against it.  This is what you get when you use foam sprayed in between rafters.

   If I was building a new house where I could watch and see the results of the foam job, I probably would do it.  In retrofit, where part is done blind, forget it.  I would use the tried and true method.

   Remember all technology is not equal, and to do something because it is supposed to be the latest ans greatest.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Sep 21, 2008 03:28pm | #2

   What is "Over X"???

   How much cels in the attic?

   Is there HVAC in the attic?

   Is there some kind of construction or layout that makes it hard to get full coverage with the cels?

   I don't see just replacing cels with foam will do that much for you unless are problems with the cels installation in the first place.

   Have you had an energy specialist go over the house with infrared and blower and duct tests?

   Have you had HVAC specialist look at the distribution system and specially the returns?

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
1. 
   RatherBBustinClays | Sep 22, 2008 09:54pm | #5

   Bill,

   Over-X is a product to overlay existing slabs.  It is 5/8 extruded polystyrene under 5/8 T&G OSB.  It comes in 2' x 2' pieces.  After it goes down you can cover with carpet, tile, or hardwood.  These folks are going with hardwood.  Dri-Core is another product we have considered as well as Delta FL.  A cold basement floor was the beginning of this project.  It is expanding.

   I will answer your other questions in order.  1. R-30 cellouse in attic (about 14" settled to 12").  2. HVAC returns for main floor are in attic.  Last year they were wrapped and sealed with insulation.  About 50 bushels of cellouse was removed at that time to make the work possible.  3.  Covering the attic floor with cellouse is possible.  Nothing unusual in the floor plan.  4. Local utility co. has done blower door.  Tightening up so far has reduced exactly one ton or 12,500 btu's of load according to their calculations.  5. Have had the original HVAC contractor in to look things over and make recommendations.  He was an employee of his father's company at the time and did the installation.  The son now owns the co. and his son will be doing any new installation.  I have used them on other jobs and like thier work.  However, I have two more coming to look at this one.  The furnace & compressor are also 23 years old and are going to be replaced.  The decision now is whether to electronic damper the existing duct or go to two systems.  One for each floor.

   Do you have experience with Icynene?  Positive or negative.

   Thank for your interest and your help in advance.