Older Home Insulation Question
MSLiechty
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
We have an older home built in 1964 with blown in insulation. That doesn’t seem to be insulating very well. The blown in insulation seems to have settled quite a bit. about 1/2″ down the 2×6 ceiling joists. Anything I can do to increase it’s effectiveness or am I looking at replacement? Is removal and replacement with FG batts a good idea?
ML
Replies
Cellulose does settle in attics, best to blow another foot in the attic. Pile it on the existing!
You have only 5" of insulation?
Nowhere near nuff. Blow another foot of cells over it.
No batts, not the answer.
Joe H
Yep, just blow another foot or so of cellulose on top of what you have.
For a house of that age, you'll probably get more bang for your buck by closing all the leaks. Homes of that age often have holes in them equivalent to several square feet. That sounds impossible, but is true. There are leaks around windows and doors. There are leaks past plumbing into walls, and up inside the walls to the attic. There are often huge leaks in heating ducts and return ducts. Find an outfit with a blower door tester. Get them to help you find all those holes. Either close them yourself or hire somebody. All the insulation in the world won't help if you have big leaks.
Insulation is cheap. Most people can do it themselves. Leaks are important, in combination with proper amount of insulation.
Just add more.
FG batts are worse insualtion value.
The only caveat is that for cellulose that old, I would take a couple handfulls and have it tested or test it my own self to see if it still prevents flame spread
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Thanks Anyone have any idea what cellulose runs cost wise. Sounds like at a minimum I need to add more. The space is roughly 1500 SF.ML
can't help you with cal prices.
Just got a quote last week for R-30 on top of what I had (about R-2).
1650 sf,
no can lights to deal with
access from the garage
Simple truss rof, not cut upBlown fiberglass about 750.
Blown cellulose about 700.TFB (Bill)
I paid about a buck a sqft for installed inulation in my house all fiberglass walls and ceilings. Cellulose may be cheaper ... that might be a good rough budget, though .... I'm in the Northwest.
Cellulose ... try to do some sealing like some suggested ... that is a biggie ... especially for your vintage house .... holes from wiring, J boxes, ducts, piping, chimney/flue, etc. This will be your best chance to seal it up. You WILL NOT want to do it at some later time.
12" cellulose seems good. Minimum 8 ... SoCal probably an OK value ... you on the coast or in the stinking desert (where I am)?
no stinking desert! Were on the coast in Orange County. Though I head your direction to hunt quail and Chukar.ML
Maybe he has blown in fiberglass? OP did specify what he had. If it only settled half an inch I do not call that "settling" of any significance. Just not enough there whatever it is.
Airseal the attic plane.
Blown on 12 inches of cellulose.
Be warm.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
from back then it ould be cellulose or rock wool mineral fibre or even perlite with asbestos.Anyways nobody knows what was there to begin with,but half an inch down on a 2x6 means he has 5" at say R-3 or so for a grand total of maybe R15 to R19...I was inspeting one a ouple days ago that had 5" of 'something'
There ws a "certificate" laid on it near the access hole stating that the atti had been insulated to R-30 standards. I had to laugh
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Maybe it is painted with super reflective insulating paint. Or dust. LOL
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Maybe, but you know what a pain in the rear end it is to paint all thoe little insulticles on a windy day, si I bet not
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I believe cellulose is the better product
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read a few posts and concur that blowing more insulation and plugging leaks would be a good route to go. On an added not be sure that you have soffit chutes installed before blowing additional insulation.