cubic’ figure for dense packed celulose
Hey everyone. I’m looking for a rough budget figure for blown in celulose. Anyone have an idea of an installed cost/cubic’? easy access, single story, new construction.
What I’m ultimately trying to do is figure out stick-building costs for my shop walls vs going with SIPS. I like the speed of SIPS, but want to figure out how much upcharge there’ll be overall.
Thanks,
Erik
Replies
I paid .50 a square foot for R38 shredded fiberglass materials and labor (12" I think)...they say it doesn't settle as much as cellulose, and not very much more $.
Maybe it doesn't settle as much, but did you know that cellulose's published R-values are required to account for settling? So if you blow in say, 12 in., and the stated R-value for 12 in. of cellulose is, say 36, the R-value you'll have after settling is 36. Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Andy,
Interesting re. the published value thing. Good to know.
Johnny,
Did your contractor say how much less than $0.50/2' for celulose? When you say 12", I assume you're talking about blowing across an attic space? Did they do walls for you as well?
Do you think it's fair to extrapolate the cost as $0.50/cubic foot (or am I interpreting your post wrong)?
Thanks,
Erik
This was blown into an attic over a 30 X 40 pole barn shop. I can't remember exactly how deep they spec'd for R 38, but I think 12 "...which would equate to cubic. They don't even do cellulose, which didn't bother me becuase several friends and relatives in the business had recommended the fiberglass to me. I did the walls myself with fiberglass batts and 6mil poly. Also used 6mil poly between the corrugated metal ceiling panels and the fiberglass. The corrugated steel spans the bottom chord of the trusses on 7'6" centers.
Just a personal note, as someone who's spent way too much time in attics, I'd never ever use the fiberglass blow in stuff.
I hate that stuff. Cellulose, you brush off whatever sticks to your clothes when you get out, and you're done. Fiberglass makes me itch. Usually for a couple days. Have to wash the clothes I wore 6-7 times to make them wearable again, or throw them out. Bugs my lungs too.
Did I mention I hate the stuff. Then, to add insult to injury, it's more expensive then the good stuff (cellulose).
STOP THE MADNESS, USE CELULOSE!!!!!!!<G>
I'm with ya, Billy. Another thing I hate with FG is when it gets by my mask and I find myself chewing on a fiber......ugh, it's like biting down on an eggshell. And when cellulose gets by my mask, well, it's got a salty sort of taste that's not too bad. <G>
One bit of negative information on FG was that it was a suspected carcinogen. Recently though, I've read that FG was removed from the list of suspected carcinogens. Given that wood dust is now listed as cancer causing, I've got to wonder if that designation carries over to cellulose? From the seat of my pants, I'd guess not because of the particle sizes involved, but then I'm no cancer researcher.
Life'll kill ya.
Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Life'll kill ya.
Boy ain't that the truth.
Just a personal preference thing. I wouldn't paint any room in my house bright yellow, I never use push in connections on outlets, and I wouldn't ever put blown in fiberglass insullation anywhere I might ever under any circumstances have to go.
Now, if I didn't particualarly like a guy......................well, nevermind.<G>
I agree with the anti-FG sentiments.
Andy, I think that nice salty taste is a borate. Anything that kills fungus and repels insects probably ain't somthin you want to sprinkle on your lunch... but like you say, lif'll kill ya.
May as well stop and smell the..borate.
PS: anyone have a cubic' ball park price for blown cell?
(edit: sorry, this should have been a reply to "All")
Edited 4/24/2003 10:44:45 PM ET by Stray
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right about the salt taste being borate. Relatively harmless stuff, but as you say, no sandwich seasoning.
Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Last time I loose fill in my attic (two weeks ago) I figured about 18 cu ft per bale of cels from Lowes, "Cocoon". These seem to be a bit smaller than some other bales I've seen, but I haven't compared actual weights. I used that volume to figure how many bales I needed and ended up with three left out of the 31 I started with. I was aiming for 19", hope I didn't fluff it too much. Sooo nice, no itch, I actually pulled the existing fg and replaced with cellulose. That made me itch.