How to Choose and Use Insulation | This Old House
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ย. 2014
- This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the wide world of insulation. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Up in the loft, Tom and Kevin discussed different types of exterior wall insulation and how they're installed, both for new construction and retrofit situations. The materials included liquid spray foam, recycled denim batts, fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, and cellulose. Installation of vapor retarders over insulation was also discussed.
Shopping List for How to Choose and Use Insulation:
- notebook [amzn.to/2LnmzOb], pencil [amzn.to/2ZVftVe] and calculator, used to calculate and record insulation costs and quantities
Tools for How to Choose and Use Insulation:
- tape measure [amzn.to/2MXmOkN], for measuring room dimensions
Tom showed Kevin a variety of materials used for insulating exterior walls, including Fiberglass Batts (faced & un-faced), blown-in fiberglass and liquid foam (open & closed cell).
Manufacturers: CertainTeed Corp [www.certainteed.com/], Bonded Logic, Inc. [www.bondedlogic.com/]
Supplier: Kamco Supply Corp. of Boston [www.kamcoboston.com/]
Additional assistance provided by Anderson Insulation [www.andersoninsul.com/] (installers of several insulation types), Joseph Lstiburek, building scientist, Building Science Corp. [www.buildingscienceconsulting....]
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How to Choose and Use Insulation | This Old House
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I remember as a kid, being very annoying at the adults watching this old house. Now I’m an adult watching it and love it..
the original song would make me so sleepy. I really appreciate it now and watch a lot of videos.
we should start a club. Tommy is my new uncle.
me too ! my dad loves this show &when I was little a hated it .haha
I just had my attic air sealed before I added new cellulose insulation. The process was: All the old insulation was removed. Then an electrical contractor rewired the entire house; all knob and tube wiring was removed, not just deactivated. After the electrical inspection by the city, the insulation guys came back and air sealed the attic. They used foam board and various foams for cracks, etc. I saw pictures of what they did and the amount of work that was done was amazing. They also air sealed my basement in the same manner. Then new insulation was blown into the attic and more insulation was blown into the outer walls of the house. All the insulation work was done by a BPI certified contractor. Then an inspector came with a heat device and checked the heat loss. A few spots in the walls needed to be 'topped off' and that was done. The difference in my house is amazing; no more cold spots! I have a 1927 Craftsman Bungalow so I still have, and intend to keep, all the original windows, so heat loss happens there. I have caulked all the windows. I am working on getting interior storm windows but in the meantime, I put up plastic coverings. Even with the old windows, the house is significantly warmer. What a difference.
What was the cost for just the full insulating?
I'm saving your comment. I want that done to my home. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for leaving your comment.
Finally found what I was lookin for!!!! No other video talked about which direction the moisture barrier should be on!!!! Thanks you tommy
One of the Best Ideas of SoundProofing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
Building new house in 2021, wanted to go with closed cell, but with increased lumber costs went with wet sprayed cellulose. Thanks for the informative video!
Love, love, love the detail in explaining the subjects of these men.
Thank you so much! This is awesome information for a first time home owner like me
So glad you guys touched on vapor lock with the visqueen some very stubborn people would not listen to me about it
I bet everyone here is an adult and loves watching their videos bec it useful to them, while my science teacher sent me 21 videos of this Chanel to watch, which I am dying from
One of my favorites!
One of the Best Ideas of SoundProofing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
Brilliant! Thank you for clarifying some of the basic ideas with insulation. Well done guys.
One of the Best Ideas of SoundProofing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
that was everything I was asking!
nice info, Thank you for sharing !!
Great video!!!
Very nice! Especially for people who is just thinking about insulation! What exactly you would recommend for a plain 20+ years old (not commercial) single level residential house insulation? Brick veneer outside, than timber frame and plasterboard inside (with empty voids of course) :) I can see a soft maths at retail which are very similar to one of your samples. However nobody from experts can advise me about a vapour barier. How to do this? What kind of material I have to use? Is it something special or ... any plastic film can be used? A very interesting subject- what do we have to do with ... massonry "weep-holes" underneath? Should we cover them or leave them open? And, btw.... while insulating empty walls we are creating a nice environment for "crawlers". It will be convenient and warm for them to grow their colonies. How to prevent this "side effect", please? Thank you
good information good old pink never let us down
Thanks to everyone in the comment section that mentioned rockwool. Its seems impossible but somehow I had never seen or heard of it. And it has all of the qualities I was looking for.
N n
Wish they talked more about the vapor control layer. It’s a topic on its own so may involve lots of details when/where/why to use.
I did Rockwool with Certainteed Membrain as the vapor retarder on my new build.
What brand of Vapor Retrader did you use?
Tom Silva is a genius. I would love to work with this guy
Tom is good at what he does. The few old timers who know their stuff and take pride in what they do are getting fewer and fewer. Cheap, sloppy and fast is the way most houses are built today.
TheSeattlegreen - and your a tool. Crushing isn’t it.
A-frame house in California. The section I’m thinking about currently has a sheetrock ceiling with insulation blown on top of it in the attic. Temps can get above 100F here. Can I get away with taking out the ceiling (and therefore insulation) and install stuff directly to the inside of the roof as an insulation replacement and reasonably expect the space to not get super hot on a 100-degree day?
Great informative but what about the new smart barriers? When should they be used?
I'm trying to figure out how to get mold and mildew from developing in a large closet. Because it's on an outside wall, moisture seeps in. Tried DampRid (hardly any good) and a small dehumidifier (fairly ok). Does blown cellulose fix this issue? Or do I need a vapor barrier as shown at 2:38?
Hi - my bedroom is right above my garage. I am planning to have closed cell spray foam insulation on my garage ceiling. Do I need to put dry wall after or can I leave the spray foam exposed? I live in Toronto and it gets very good here during winter months. Thanks in advance.
Two questions for Tom please? 1- How can a DIY homeowner put any of the retrofit insulation in ourselves without hiring out the job or renting a blower? 2- Why is the foam (or other full compact insulation) so popular to you Tom, when I have seen you trying to run wire or cable down the inside of an existing wall? Or for that matter, repair or run short plumbing vertically? Thanks to the team for all these Videos!! I learn something from all of them (wish your team could come to my house and video some needed repairs).
FYI...closed cell spray foam is the best insulation...BUT - you can't do it yourself and it's expensive. And if done incorrectly it can be dangerous and possibly render your house unlivable.
I saw that on TH-cam from a segment on the CBC where homes were made unlivable and people had these brand new homes but had to live in a trailer outside of the home or they would become instantly sick and the horrible smell too.
@@tonym1279 , it's not "the best" it harms our ecology big time. You can insulate inexpensively and reach zero energy.
My question is would a layer of blue or pink board on the studs but under the drywall be effective ? Live in Minnesota
Thanks!
Which is the best retrofit material for a cathedral ceiling through the fascia & soffit to add present bat insulation in Illinois weather. Venting along the soffit was shut due to the moisture condensation inside & vents at top of roof left open cause scaling at top of beam inside. Thermal imaging was done and the corners & a 4 x 5 foot area over the front door was missing insulation. Advise would be greatly appreciated.
Looking for advice, what insulation should i use on an attached to house garage wall? Paper out with a poly vapor barrier? Or no paper with a poly batrier? Thank you very much.
I'm surprised they didn't talk about mineral wool or even sheeps wool as insulation. Sheep wool is a bit niche but mineral wool is very popular and readily available.
I like mineral wool too. Evidently it can be blown in but I've never seen it in loose fill bags or heard a a contractor up for doing it. Hardware stores around me only carry mineral wool batts. So it's just more challenging to find it or find someone who'll blow it in.
Great vid. Update please with radiant barrier materials. Please also have a series on passive house materials.
Question i have a shed the wall are open cavity. I also live in Flroida, very hot. My concern is wall are open, so can i installed a vapor barrier push in between the studs and thn installed? avoid mositure and mold.
Good information. But, no mention of what I found to be the best of all , Rockwool !
Faced insulation can be used in garage attic, with faced going below and also installing plywood boards on top of joists for walk over?
Should be unfaced be used instead of faced?
Great video, thank you!
Great video. Now I know to get the vapor retarder ,live in north east
It's either paper faced insulation or un-faced and poly plastic.
Great information. My home is about 50 years old i have no insulation in the floor and very little in the attic. What are my options?
What is the construction of your home? Open attic? Walkable? What's What's siding? Basement? Crawl? Slab?
What is the best insulation for an attic?
Which would be better to insulate the plywood side of a house. Open or closed cell foam. I live in the middle region. R38 is what I've been recommended
Looking for up-to-date info on insulating full masonry buildings like my 1903 residence in St. Louis.
Which one is good gor blocking outside noise?
Good, QUICK review.
Closed cell 2” all you need. The best!
Open cell max fill cavity then trim. Second best!
Hi in New York, NYSERDA and coned offer company’s to come in with a rebate and insulate attic with loose fill and closed walled with a blown in insulation without removing the pink.
It feels like they just want to get in and out. And make a lot of money
Can you tell me what I should use in the attic and in the walls …. Should they suck out old stuff
Love this show.
Can the retrofit blown insulation be used for plaster lathe walls? I have a brick colonial.
Yes it can
@@chrisdix1390
Great. Thank you
I have lath and plaster walls and had insulation blown in my exterior walls...no problems at all. I have a 1920s bungalow. If you have knob and tube wiring I would make sure you can blow in insulation over that. I was told that is a no no.
great video. I live in New England and will be building a new home. I want to use closed cell spray foam and have had others suggest 1" of foil backed board over the spray foam on the inside of the house to stop thermal bridging - what is your take?
Thanks
Hey, I was curious what decision you went with, if there was anything you wish you knew in advance, and how is it holding up 5 years later?
Can i insulate interior walls of my attic? I have a furnace in the attic and want to keep it as warm as possible since it's very cold in 10 degree temps in winter time.
What about califorina , do you need air vapor barrior
What about external insulation products to reduce damp and black mould inside the home.
boy I go around and around with how to insulate my old house, I know there is some in the walls but not much. I have an old lath and plaster home. very cold What would any one suggest for an update for insulation ? Thank you Cold in Montana
Easily closed cell
We need an update that includes Rockwool in the comparison.
What about insulation for interior walls, like for multi-zone interiors or for sound insulation?
Rockwool is a great option for this, great sound deadening properties. Matt Risinger has some good videos on it
Thank you, good information! Is there any health risk with anyone of these types of products or anything to look out forward when having a company install?
i have an old house 1930 no insulation.. stick built.. it has a cavity to insulate.. but right now its got a lot of wet on the bottom of some of the walls.. about a foot off the floor.. those floors are close to the ground the crawl space, is literally so low you cant crawl under those parts.. there is vinyl siding outside but i do not think there is a vapor barrier at all.. its just the clapboard and walls, i think its plaster but i dunno if someone has put sheetrock over it in an attempt to cover wet walls.... i have to drill in to see if its plaster, but i'm guessing that it is due to its age... how can i insulate these exterior walls.. can i use foam in insulation with a vapor retarder on the inside and put up new drywall.. ripping out all the exterior plaster walls. or will it still sweat and get damp because there is no vapor barrier outside ? i know i cannot strip all the clapboard cladding off the house and add vapor barrier i just don't have the funds.. can a vapor barrier be put between the vinyl siding and the wood clapboard siding? or will this trap moisture.. another thing i thought about doing was taking down the outside walls, putting an inch of cut to fit styrofoam between the studs leaving a little room between the clapboard siding and foaming all around the styrofoam... to stop air infiltration and then putting the fiberglass batting inside and then drywall... will this work? or is there a way i can blow something in the walls and not cause it to get damp and rot down the walls. i've read that blow in in an old house with plaster can cause house rot and damp walls and attract bugs.. ?? any suggestions? i am driving myself nuts trying to figure this out... we have two trooms at the back that we tore the wet wallboard all out of its a board batten type of add on, no airspace, it has wood clapboard on the outside and then vinyl on top of that, i want to build new 2x4 walls and insulate the walls in these rooms but what should i do.. should i just strip off all the wood and vinyl outside and put on plywood and a vapor barrier? or is there a way i can do it without having to strip off the clapboard siding... i really don't want to have to do that if i can get by another way... the house is right nearly on the ground towards the back, all the sills have rotted, they have poured a concrete ditch all round the side of the ouse in a U shape in an attempt to direct water away from the foundation.. im worried that this is the reason for all this dampness its just not doing its job... help!!
I’m not so sure that heat wants to transfer to cold but cold with add force to heat. I’ve noticed this with my insulated over shoe that in the truck I will have the heat on high and not feel the heat in my boots but 30 seconds after I step out side I feel my feet getting really warm and can feel it for awial. Now with houses I’ve noticed ac will run for 15 minutes at a time during the day when it’s 90 outside but as soon as temps out side reach 60 starting at 7pm I notice inside temps go up and the ac is running almost none stop till 2am we keep inside temps at 65 2x6 fiberglass insulation with internal vapor barrier.
Also before adding ac inside temps would be ok at 75 during the day till it started getting colder outside then temps would reach 90 inside with all the windows open the best way to solve the issue was to have fans on one side of the house sucking and another blowing it out to force the air otherwise it didn’t seem to really move.
I’m thinking a heat shield may work better if you could build a awning around the whole house with a air gap atleast three in from the actual house may help? Since heat Shields work very well for car exhaust. Even better would be to add a three inch vacuum chamber around the whole house but can’t think of any good way of creating that
which one keeps the house cooler during the summer and keeps it warm during winter!!?? Vegas weather is killing me heereee
Any sort of insulation will do that.
I have a house built in 1935 and it has no insulation on the outside walls. All it has is wood vertically going across the frame of the house then this black paper and finally the original wood siding. Should I use a Vapor Retardant on both sides of my fiberglass insulation? I live in Northeast Ohio so we get weather like New England.
If you're here in 2020, it's been determined that water vapor amounts for about a quarter of a pint over the period of a year. Compare that to almost 12 quarts of water with just a 1 inch hole in your wall. Air movement > water vapor, every time.
Also, a latex primer over your drywall is more than enough of a water vapor barrier.
In the first minute of this video I heard Mr. Silva say heat travels to cold. So, in the north put the vapor barrier inside where the heat is. In the south put the vapor barrier on the outside, where the heat is. My question, I am building a four season camper van, Promaster, to be traveled very north and very south. It is going to be insulated. Any suggestions as to where to install a vapor barrier. Thanks.
Sounds like you had better design for fault-tolerance. You are really stretching the conceptual envelope here; this is not a forum for vehicles.
I live in Ohio, can I and/or should I use Open Cell spray foam? We've gutted the lower level so it would be like applying it to new construction but the upper level will be retro fitted.
What to do in rust belt of South Dakota?
So I’m 22 buying an apt and need to insulate I’ll probably keep/ live in the house for 3-5 years but eventually sell any recommendations
What did u end up doing? Closed cell has a high return on investment, but high initial cost
on retrofit, how is a vapor barrier added for cellulose or fiberglass?
I'd definitely like to know the same. I am insulating the common wall in my garage in Ohio and I'm dreading custom cutting the poly to fit every bay.
How about foam panels? Also which way does the foil side face. This is for a wood shed in Fl. No barrier on outside of shed.
If you have FOIL, that's a radiant barrier. It MUST have an air gap (vacuum would be better, but that's impossible on earth) and the foil should remain SHINY for best effect. Why? Because conduction (intimate contact of foil shiny side with other building materials) defeats the radiant stop. So never put shiny where it will get dusty or coated with anything. Radiant barriers work both as high reflectors and low emitters; they work in "the dark" and are fabulous for attics, to retard radiant heating of attic from hot roofing shingles. Shiny side DOWN; or IN. EXCELLENT for garages that suffer from sun exposure in hot climates. Caveat: sub-rafter foil is a rat haven! So you must defend against rat infestation.
Anyone know of an option for insulating a beatiful old cabin with log siding ext, and vertical pine solid paneling inside?
It’s hard
Probably reframing exterior walls inside and re-panelling them, but depending on the footage of the rooms you will lose quite percent of it.
Hi! Really useful video.,. I'd like to ask a question... I live in Mexico, near Mexico City, where temperatures in winter go to 0 or 1 degree Celsius, so it's super cold but still it's very cold. My house is specially cold since it's oriented to North so it's also very dark in winter. So my question is, is it absolutely indispensable to insulate all the walls of the house or it'd be ok to insulate a couple of walls and see how better it gets and then pick up from there?... Thx so much for the advise. Regards
Biker BMW - todas las paredes del exterior es muy importante para conservar energía.
What's the best insulation to help sound proof and is good for South Dakota weather
Fiberglass
There is so much more about INSULATION - thermal barriers and air sealing and perm ratings, testing the air tightness using a blowerdoor. and then there is the off-gassing of foam, and then there is the carbon emissions of creating the product. what product is natural ? Healthy ? Affordable ?
DENSE PACK CELLULOSE
Closed cell spray foam has a much larger R-value however.
I can't believe there was no mention of faced vs unfaced and the benefits of each, especially when talking about moisture/water vapor.
What's ur opinion on rock wool. I've heard alot of great things. Fair price as well. Building at 10,ooo ft. Need to be warm.
I recently installed it on part of my basement, saw a difference right away. Wear gloves and eye protection. I recommend to anyone. I paid about $51 for one pack covers about 59 sq feet of space. Good luck.
Can anyone tell me what that vapor barrier is actually called? I am speaking of the 2nd one he mentions that allows some ventilation. Thank so much from Maine, USA
I am remodelling an old house, I'm doing this for the first time and now I am about to insulated the exterior walls. The problem is that the distance between studs varies from 10 to 19 inches so if I use fiberglass batts it's going to be a nightmare. I wonder if blowing cellulose wouldn't be a better idea, but I am also worried about the cost. Can anybody give me a suggestion here? Thank you.
They make pourable closed cell foam. Dont mix more that 16z pours at a time in 2x4 wall cavities.
What type of insulation would you use on a shipping container home (tiny home) where the walls are not flat and you're trying to keep the outside heat from the inside?
Is there any type of framing on the inside or is it just the shipping container's wall?
Ryan J Just the wall
Where can I buy that green, closed-cell insulation?
Only from a contractor that installs it. It requires special equipment and knowledge of how to mix and spray it.
What about the 2×4 wood spots? They don't get any insulation?
huber zip system
I was thinking about putting 2 in. XPS and 4 in. roxul on top of it in my 2x6 exterior walls. Something like a combination between those two types of insulation in search of better performance for less price. But Im not sure. Im afraid of possible moisture collection inside the wall because of this XPS. I live in climate zone 5 (upper part, actually almost zone 6). Do I have to worry and do I have to use vapour barrier/retarder in this case?
I am curious what you ended up doing?
@@ronwest7930 I didn't do it after all. Just put 6 in. Roxul and smart retarder on top of it. Didn't dare to use XPS inside of the wall considering climate zone I'm in. Also nobody that I asked encouraged me to do so.
@@simeondimchev122 I am curious how much the Roxul cost? I am planning a small home and trying to figure out what insulation to use that doesn't break the bank.
@@ronwest7930 Probably can't help you with the price just because I live in Europe, Bulgaria, but definitely it's cheaper then XPS or any open or close cell spray foam.
What about rock wool insulation?
Something no one talks about and most people don't realize is that the rigid spray foam insulation offers no sound proofing. My neighbor spent a fortune insulating his entire house with it and now he can hear someone's conversation on the sidewalk as if they were in the same room. Personally, I would spend the money on ICF instead.
You can use a combination, 2” closed cell to get your air and canoe barrier, then 3.5” of rock wool, then 5/8” sheet rock.
There’s also sound dampening you can put behind the drywall
@jaykay9112000 - I actually wouldn't do that either as it puts the vapor barrier (the foam) too close to the cold side of the wall (for my climate zone anyway - zone 6), asking for condensation and mold. Plus, who wants to hang entire homes in 5/8 board? Not me.
Because it dries hard, it become a sound 'conductor'. It creates a 'circuit' for sound to travel from the exterior to the interior. The other insulation's do the opposite with 'Rock-Wool' having probably the best sound-proofing characteristics. As with many things, there are trade-offs. . .
Brian D. I have now put spray foam in my ceiling and exterior walls, and I don’t notice anymore sound than when I had fiberglass. If you look at the sound dampening tests spray foam is only slightly below fiberglass in the testing
What about vipeq???
At 2:40 the guy talks about a vapour retarder, would this be something to go on both sides if you get hot and cold weather ? I'm wondering if it would need to go next to the exterior wall and on the other side next to the interior wall.
Livin In A Box I live in an area where we get get hot and cold. from my understanding the vapor barrier faces the conditioned space. This would be why bat insulation isn't sold with the paper face on both sides. You wouldn't want to trap moisture between the two barriers.
I actually had this exact question bc I want to retrofit a barn into a small home for myself and was wondering about keeping myself efficiently warm and which way to face the retardant for the blue jean batting when I put it up! Yay for prowling the comments for answers!
Yes, the plastic or paper faced insulation always faces the heated area. It's not really a retardant, it's usually just called a vapor barrier.
I'm insulating a room now and have vinyl faced 4 ft wide r13. I have to double it over because I have 2x6 walls. Was curious if I need to remove one side of the batting to avoid mildew?
tyler coffey, here in New England, we would remove one of the vapor barriers. The remaining one would be facing you or towards the heated/conditioned area.
what about mineral wool?
What about Georgia? Sounds like I’d need a vapor retarder??
What about insulation on the outside with New siding or stucko?
Insulation is inside the stick framing. For the exterior wall, a 0.5" plywood will be put onto the exterior side, that then your house wrap and then your siding. So it does not matter which one.
Learn about Dr. Joe Lstiburek's "perfect wall." He is the high priest of building science, a person entirely respected by all the other publishers like This Old House and Matt Risinger. You are right to favor exterior insulation, but that gets very expensive. If you live in a severe climate, it makes more sense. If you live in "paradise," and can run around in swimming trunks all year around, then it's different.
can the open cell work in an attic?
Did you end up doing it?
things to considered in any insulation: fire; sound; temperature; moisture
I live in Southern Ohio, we get both hot summers and cold winters here in the midwest. My home was built in the early 1950's and has very scattered fiberglass insulation on the attic floor. If I wanted to turn the attic into a usable space during the summer and winter, would I have to insulate interior of the roof instead? Currently it is just framing, nothing but wood. Also- would this mean leaving what is on the floor? replacing it? or adding to it?
All recommendations welcome!
Leave the insulation in the floor/add to it also and yes you need to insulate the roof rafters. Please make sure you have soffit vents and bay vents as well as ridge vents to make sure you shingles have proper air flow below them. Hope this helps.
If you want to use the attic year round, you would probably need an HVAC run to it, plus lights and outlets. Being a heated and cooled space, I would think you'd want to remove the insulation on the floor to take advantage of radiant heat from below. The ceiling would need to be insulated but to get enough R value in the rafters cavities you'd need closed cell spray foam or fir strips to build the cavities out, and you need adequate ventilation too. It's a rather big job to do it right.
Mario Cartolano leave the insulation in the floor and put plywood over the top of it. Then insulate between the rafters and the end walls. I prefer John's Mansville because it does not have formaldehyde in the insulation. Make sure it has a vapor barrier that's pointed towards you. You can leave it that way or drywall over the top of it if you want to turn it into usable living space.
What about a basement that is prone to dampness?
So are there any issues with first coating with closed cell and then once set, second coating with open cell? Or is there a reason not to do this? I am in the Tampa Bay area, so most of the time we are trying to keep the heat out. Also, what would happen if we used closed cell against the inside of the roof and then over the years we developed a roof leak? Where would that water go and how would you even know it to know it needed repair? Also, what about fire safety? No one ever talks about fire issues.
"Foam it Green" actually recommends open cell sprayed in the cavity first followed by open cell for the rest.
@@stevenrieger3666 , how do you recommend stopping the foam form decomposing or separating from the wall or losing it's R-value over time?
We can go from -40F (-40C) in the winter to 104F (40C) in the summer. Would you consider that to be like New England when it comes to vapor barrier/vapor retarder?
Yes, but -15 to 100f.
We have a attic with no insulation at all. . We want to go with the spay foam but what kind do we use and what company to trust? HELP This old house is more then welcome to my home.
Dont use foam. Dont risk your families health. Also it difficult to get out or install stuff in it. Use fibreglass or rockwool.
What about the chemical off gasing of the foams, Boron on cellulose, etc...?
Closed caption essential for these high info, instructional videos. Sound quality seems to vary greatly video to video.
I live in an old house in Fresno, Ca and have hot summers and cold winters. I want to blow in insulation but I'm afraid I'll get mold. What do you guys suggest?
+esclavosoy In any case, you're going to need a contractor. I doubt you have the tools and material to blow in cellulose information, so they should have it covered. You're on the right track, though, picking blow in as opposed to traditional application methods which are much more invasive.
yakyakyak69 thanks for the info.
Retro-foam. They fill your walls with foam insulation - and you don't have to tear walls out to do it. They simply drill holes in the walls and pump in the insulation. All you have to do it patch the holes.
@@tonym1279 The problem is the "old house in Fresno" will be a water leaker. It rains in winter, and water runs into the exterior walls, from defective and aging roofs. By adding foam (whether closed cell or open cell) to the stud bays, you are increasing risk of water retention inside those walls. That means fungus and mold. Here in SoCal, everything dries out if it's not hampered by foam, plastic layers, etc. It's even hotter and drier in Fresno in the summer, and that suggests that radiant barriers are appropriate. Those foam ideas seem to be more appropriate in Toronto and Boston.
Ummm, so why would he say keep the fiber glass loose and then later keep them dense? So which is it?
can you use both open and closed cell in the same area ?
vkatgol Yes you can. However closed cell foam is both a water and vapor barrier, where open cell is not.
closed cell - used for exterior walls and outside ----- open cell - used for interior only. You don't spray one over the other.
I like a show that teaches you how to fix and build. All the other shows entertain, but don't teach you much.
Doesn't shaving off the top "skin" of the foam diminish the vapour barrier effectiveness...or can you combat that by spraying in two or three goes?
That's open cell. You need a spray vapor barrier or 4 mill plastic.
closed cell foam sprayed outside the house - on a roof for example - MUST be coated to protect the foam from UV rays which will break it down. If done correctly, I've seen spray foam roofs last 30 years and never leaked.
Gotcha
At what point does the r value begin to only marginally improve insulation? In hopes to be clearer, the cellulose vs the closed foam. What would one expect to save?
closed cell is 10 times better than cellulose. With closed cell foam you can create a complete building envelope. This means no leaks, no loss of heat/cold, lower bills, no voids in insulation plus it increases the structural integrity of the house.
which is best for a sound proof wall ?
I'm thinking stone wool
Open cell without a doubt it has by far the best transient noise reduction levels 70% at 120mm thick
Jamie FM
Deaf neighborhood,
Cellulose insulation has the best soundproof.
Roxal stone wool