Replies

1. 
   truck8 | Nov 21, 2004 04:52am | #1

   If you have plaster walls, is it block or wood frame construction underneath?

1. 
   mike71 | Nov 21, 2004 08:23pm | #3

   wood frame

2. 
   goldhiller | Nov 21, 2004 06:53pm | #2

   Sight unseen........common approach is to drill the sheathing and blow cellulose. Plug holes and reside.

   If balloon framed, depending upon how joists are framed/terminated against outside walls........be careful you don't drill into the joist bays or you'll end up filling your ceilings with cellulose.

   Make a map of each house side and where the holes are drilled so you know which pieces of siding to remove 5-10 years down the road to refill from the top after settlement.

   Apply housewrap (or 30# if cedar siding).

   Edit: If house is sporting knob and spool wiring, encapsulating this in insulation is not advised .......although often done anyway. Best to replace the wiring first.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

   
   

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   Edited 11/21/2004 10:55 am ET by GOLDHILLER

1. 
   housedktr | Nov 22, 2004 03:35am | #4

   just currious,

   haven't heard the term ''knob and spool wiring" before.  what is that?

1. 
   UncleDunc | Nov 22, 2004 10:47am | #5

   http://www.nachi.org/tips/0600.gif

2. 
   goldhiller | Nov 22, 2004 04:59pm | #6

   Local vernacular, kinda.......I guess. Or at least around here it's usually referred to as knob & spool rather than knob & tube.Same thing, different terminology.http://listserv.repp.org/pipermail/greenbuilding/2001-March/021107.htmlKnowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

1. 
   BSayer | Nov 22, 2004 05:40pm | #7

   To me, knob and spool doesn't make much sense; spool and tube maybe. There are insullated (mine were ceramic) 'knobs' (which look a lot like a spool that thread comes on) to hold the wire up parallel to the joist and 'tubes' where the wire passes through a joist or plate. Often the wire has cloth covering where it passes through wood.Just had the house re-wired. I saved some examples if anyone wants to see them.

3. 
   csnow | Nov 22, 2004 07:21pm | #8

   If you are residing anyways, you can pull a few strategic sheathing boards to make it really easy to blow dense pack cellulose.  You will be able to see and adapt to any diagonal bracing, and such.

   This is also an excellent opportunity to install fire-blocking at the sills and rim joists, particularly if you have balloon framing.  Fire blocking ain't just for fire.  Big airsealing benefit as well.

   Also a great time to run new cables, plumbing,...