Replies

1. 
   seeyou | May 02, 2007 01:10am | #1

   Your profile doesn't give your location, so we don't know if you're in a primarily cooling or heating zone. One possible solution is to blow cellulose over the top of the existing.

   http://grantlogan.net/

1. 
   JohnHH | May 02, 2007 01:39am | #2

   i am in Richmond, Virginia, so we get both.  the insulation i am concerned with is in the sloped rafters, stapled in place. i don't see how i could get blown celuloce in there.

    

   is there a life expectancy to insulation?

1. 
   rpait | May 02, 2007 03:35am | #4

   the insulation i am concerned with is in the sloped rafters, stapled in place.

   I are in Florida so we get mostly heat, with some heat on top of that. Most of the attics I do repairs in have what started out as 6" batt rolled between the rafterz. I know about stappling them but mostly the installers down here didnt. so after the years of summers year round the batts are now about 2" thick if. Covered in dust etc.

   I just baffle the rafters by the soffits and blow it in. R 38.

   My question about the staples is if it is supporting the insulation does it compress like our unstapled ones do.

   My question is if you cant access it to blow insulation on top of it how do you access it to replace it?-worth exactly 2 cents!

1. 
   joeh | May 02, 2007 04:39am | #7

   The insulation is not on the attic floor, it's stapled up between the roof rafters.

   So, no blow cells.

   Joe H

1. 
   rpait | May 02, 2007 06:41am | #8

   there is one guy who posted pics where insulation and glue was sprayed on his walls before he finished off the attic. I liked that idea, thought it was pretty slick.

   so has your insulation lost any of its thickness?-worth exactly 2 cents!

2. 
   rpait | May 02, 2007 03:30am | #3

   Unless it is getting wet you shouldnt have to replace it, just add more on top of it- I like blown in cellulose but you do what you want.

   -worth exactly 2 cents!

3. 
   BillHartmann | May 02, 2007 03:40am | #5

   What kind of ventaltion is there in the attic?

   IS there any HVAC equipment or ducts in the attic?

   Is any of the attic finished?

   Is there any insulation on the floor of the attic?

   .
   .
   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. 
   JohnHH | May 02, 2007 04:29am | #6

   There are several ducts.

   the attic is accessed from a door in the bedroom, this appears to be the only ventalation.

   The attic is unfinished, used for storage.  it is separated from the bedroom by a stud wall as the roof slopes down.

     i do not believe there is any insulation under the plywood flooring.

4. 
   MadisonRenovations | May 05, 2007 03:36am | #9

   fiberglass usually doesn't make a good seal, leakage against the rafters. Then if the paper is broken, there's no vapor barrier. If you don't have a ventilation channel, you could get condensation if moist air travels through the gaps and condensed among the fibers near the roof; could cause mold and possible rot the roof sheathing.

   After ripping out our fiberglass and spray-foaming with high density polyurethane, I'm amazed at the difference, going from a freezing room, to not needing heat with the attic door opened. (The radiant heat is almost connected.) It's expensive, but no infiltration and no cold ceiling causing a noticeable downdraft. R-7 per inch means you can get an R-40 roof in 2x6 rafters, and you won't need to vent the roof.

   Great stuff. (hey, unintentional pun!)

   But at a minimum, check for blackness in the fibers where it's split. You might be able to get by with sealing the whole thing with poly sheets stapled to the rafters and taped at the seams and staples.

   ---mike...

5. 
   HSRCARE | Nov 13, 2021 06:25am | #10

   It really depends on the severity of the issues with the insulation. If it is all paper faced, I would say get rid of it and do some more effective insulation like Roxul. If it is fiberglass faced, paper can be put over it if desired.