how hard to install loose fill insulation in attic without blower?
Jim_in_ak
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I’ll be insulating the attic of the house I’m building and am trying to decide between cellulose vs mineral wool (loose fill).
— need R50+
— about 1300 sq ft
— roof trusses @ 24″
— plenty of room over the eaves for full depth of fill
— half is a flat ceiling, half is 5:12 ceiling under a 8:12 roof.
Questions:
How hard to install loose fill mineral wool without a blower (ads claim you can)?
What about cellulose?
Will the sloped ceiling be a problem with one or the other types? Could some baffels be put in first?
Any help appreciated.
Jim Green
Haines AK
Replies
Why wouldn't you use a blower? They are available for free from most of the big box stores if you buy the insulation there.
Without a blower you'll be very hard pressed to install the insulation evenly enough that it will work as advertised. This is one of those jobs that I never do if I can hire a pro and I've done t plently of times. By the time you make the many trips back and forth to get the insulation, work through the learnign curve and then get it done the pro will probably be cheaper. Yes, baffles go first.
The only insulation worth having is insulation that was installed well and that requires a craftsman.
Thanks,
I am looking into my options for getting a blower, which may be limited (I live in a small isolated Alaskan town).
Why do the mineral wool people claim you don't need a blower for their loose fill product? Does a blower not work with that type?
Jim
Some flavors of mineral wool claim to be "pourable" -- you can dump it out and rake it around. However, it is compacted in the bag and needs to be "aerated" (the clumps broken up) before it's spread.
Before you do anything, calculate how many bags of insulation you'll need (and how much they'll weigh). Think about hauling all those bags up to the attic.
(And the time to think about insulating the attic, especially in a remote town in Alaska, is before you start building it. You need to plan for the insulation.)
Sloped ceiling is a problem.
Baffles should be put in first.
Doing it without a blower is foolish.
With a blower you need a helper to run the blower.
Thanks for the input.
Jim
blower
Maybe DonAbels in Juneau could load it on the Ferry ?
blower
thanks, I'll do some checking.
Jim