Replies

1. 
   BossHog | Apr 08, 2003 03:00pm | #1

   I used wet blown in fiberglass in a house I did a couple of years ago. Really liked the system, and would do it again. It uses less water than the celulose system, so you didn't have to wait to drywall. And it has a higher R value than batts.

   Grow your own dope, plant a man.

2. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 08, 2003 05:54pm | #2

   seriously consider foam.. much higher R number, much quieter and adds a noticable amount of rigidity to a house which makes the house feel better.. The doors close with a better"thunk" the windows seal better and the whole house just has a feeling of solidity that you'll never get with any other method of insulation.. 

     the slightly higher cost is more than offset by the lower heating bills you'll pay in the future..

1. 
   tvinet | Apr 08, 2003 07:06pm | #3

   Don't mean to highjack this post, but have a question for frenchy. What foam do you suggest, polyurethane or icynene?

   Thanks

1. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 09, 2003 02:21am | #4

   Polyeurathane seems to have a higher R number but Icynene has more applicators around here, thus the price installed is more competetive..

     I suspect the local market would dictate which I would select.

1. 
   s_ericks0n | Apr 10, 2003 10:25pm | #5

   Do either of these have a problem with out-gassing?

   Scott

1. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 11, 2003 03:49am | #6

   It depends,  most are using the type of foam which uses CO2 as a propelant..  there will be slight wif of smell for a day or so, after that nothing.. benign as heck..  

2. 
   s_ericks0n | Apr 11, 2003 07:05pm | #7

   I don't think the propellant is the main issue.  From the little I know, the foam itself can break down over time releasing formaldehyde or other chemicals.  That's why I've steered completely away from foam insulation.

   Scott

3. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 12, 2003 02:19am | #8

   the formula's using formedahide haven't been used for a while in most of the foam that I know of..   Some of the smaller manufactures are still using a process that releases some CFC's  into the atmosphere.  However the major manufactorers all use CO2 now rather than freon based propellants.. It's easy to tell,  look at the tanks the installer uses and it will  say either CO2 or a freon based propelant.. Since there is a real price advantage to using CO2,   It will become extremely rare to see the freon based product any more..

       I used R Control panels in my house and there is a tiny bit of formedahide in the OSB.  (Like any plywood/OSB, manufactured wood product) but most off gassing takes place within a few days of manufacture of them and by the time they arrive where I can use them it may have been well over two months since they were made.  Since there was almost a one year span from start to to weathered in, I doubt any formedahide could be detected..

           It would take an extrodanary amount of effort to be completely formedahide free in any house now days.. Evan the two x fours are sprayed with a sealant that has some level of formedahide.

            As for breakdown of foam, Most studies I see have a 1/2 life not exposed to Sunlite of several hundred years.. (UV lite is what seems to attack most foams, In land fills that don't get sunlite  they simply do not break down.    Which is why the evironmentalists wanted us to stop using foam coffee cups and sandwich wrappers. )

3. 
   Mongo | Apr 12, 2003 07:09am | #9

   Given the choices, I'd recommend cellulose.

   Batter air sealer, better IR blocker, better at handling any water intrusion, better sound blocker, better...