Accessing attic with blown-in insulation
mtitus
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I have a relatively new house (constructed 2006). The attic has blown-in insulation which is pretty deep (several inches higher than the joists). I have a couple different projects I would like to do in the attic. How do I move around in all that insulation?
Replies
mtitus
Your best bet is to sweep, rake, pushmove the insulation away from areas you wish to use as a pathway (down to or close to the joist tops. This allows you to see what you are walking on and keeps you from making another access back down to the floor below.
Then, if you are uncomfortable walking on the joists, cut or find 1 ft x 8 ft strips of at least 3/4 ply (1/2's ok if you're not huge)., lay these ACROSS the joists-temporarily tack them down if still uncomfortable. If walking the joists is ok with you, take up a shorter pc of ply so you can kneel down and work off that or to use as a platform to comfortably stand.
When done, either leave your walkway and recover with the insul. you moved, or bring them down and replace the insulation.
You can make a permanent catwalk by standing a couple of 2xWhatevers on edge at right angles to the joists and tacking them down somehow. Then put plywood planks on top.
If you go higher than 2x6 consider using some cross-bracing so the wood pieces will be less inclined to tip over.
But you'll still need some tools for moving the insulation out of the way. For cellulose I've found a child's snow shovel to be very handy -- small enough to get in tight places but can move a lot of insulation in one scoop.
(Of course, the other option is to don a mask, snorkel, and flippers and dive in.)