I own a 1939 cape in Boston. I’ve had ice-damming issues in the past because it’s nearly impossible to ventilate the attic properly. It’s also hot as hell upstairs during the summer. Current insulation is loose-fill rock wool between the upstairs ceiling joists (w/batts on top) and rock wool in-between the rafters from the ceiling joists down to the eaves/soffits.

Insulation contractor is preparing to spray Icynene in-between the rafters from the ridge down to the eaves. The object is to totally seal off the attic.

Since this is a retro-fit, the contractor is cutting large holes through the knee-walls in order to access the rafters. After cutting several holes today, he discovered that the rock-wool is being held in-between the rafters with cardboard. Now he says he’s gotta send a guy out to make many more holes and rip out the cardboard and suck out the rock-wool with a giant vacuum. I was originally told the entire thing would be a 1-day job. Now we’re looking at 2 or 3 days (and potentially more money).

So my question: Why were these cardboard baffles and rock-wool such a surprise for an old house like mine? During the estimate, I was told they would be able to bang the rock wool out of the rafters with a stick and then they could just spray the foam.

And, I’m getting really nervous. Will the Icynene really solve my ice-damming and overheating problems? My house is now swiss cheese, so I need a kind word here.

Toolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as “Toolfreak”)