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We are in the process of researchingg insulation options for our house. I would like to get some opinions on the Nu-Wool insulation or other wet-installed fill versus cellulose or fiberglass loose fill. The home will be built in northern Michigan this spring. Your help, opinions, and educated guesses are greatly appreciated!
Cami
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Replies
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Cami A. Searvch the archives--lots of stuff there. GeneL
*Gene- I have searched the achives, but many of the comparisons I have located involved batts vs. cellulose, or comparisons while wet, etc. If you remember a particular thread that has this question, please let me know. Thanks again, Cami
*Cami, what is NuWool, and what are its touted advantages over the more traditional materials? Sounds like something FHB ought to investigate.Andy
*AndyNu-Wool is just the brand name of a manufacturer of cellulose insulation.Terry
*Is it ok to put nu wool in a knee wall?
*Cellulose is good. It's what I insulated this house with, and it's the only insulation that I've ever been enthusiastic about. It does great in the winter, retaining its R-value as the temp drops, and great in the summer, preventing most of the radiant heat gain. The house is comfortable! Andy
*Thanks for your responses, everyone. We have decided to go with a combination of cellulose types. Only 102,000 more decisions to go!
*As I understand it, all cellulose is just ground up newprint treated with something to make it fireproof and insect resistant. Unless you have a lot more time than money, you will probably want this installed professionally. You could blow your ceilings, but if you wet-spray your walls, get someone who's been at it a while. The quality of the machine (they are NOT all equal) he has will determine how good of a job he does.
*Soooooo much more time than money. (Resort town-get the winters off-just in time for hunting season) We are having a bit of trouble finding a machine available for rent to wet-spray, and will probably go to a dry DIY installation or the only guy in town for the wet application.
*Could someone give me a cellulose insulation primer. I have searched the archive and found a lot of information, but because I'm pretty clueless about the stuff, I'm not always sure I'm following along. I need a "Cellulose for Dummies" post :-)Are there different types of cellulose Insulation?How is it applied? I keep seeing wet vs dryCan you use it for a cathedral ceiling? How would that work?Can a DIY do it, or is it best hired out?What is the R-value? Thanks so much!Paula (a.k.a. Dummy)
*Do a search for Fine Homebuilding magazine articles.There was an excellent article with many pictures on blowing cellulose.I'm sorry I don't have time to dig through my copies but it was fairly recent, maybe less then a year old.You can order a back copy or your local library may have the issue.
*Alan, that photo shoot was at my house, and FredL did the article and the insulation (Don't jump to conclusions-- I paid him for his work, it wasn't a perk). The article is in FHB 130, pp 70-73. FWIW, this house is by far the most comfortable and cheapest to heat of any that I've owned or built. I'm too cheap to put in AC, but by closing the windows during the day and opening them when the sun goes down, we remain cool on all but the hottest, muggiest days. I'm a believer.Andy
*Thanks Andy and Alan. I'll find that issue tonight. I have all my back issues of FHB leather bound with gold lettering you know (Doesn't everyone?) so it shouldn't take long at all! ;-) Paula
*I would think in a exterior wall insulating between the studs is only part of a whole system, what you use their doesn't make or break the overall system. You have to consider your windows, gaps between window frame and wall and even the studs themselves. Would not a continuous sheeting of a relative R-value on the exterior of wall be more of greater benefit than just insulating between the studs, but then their are the windows and doors also where you lose the greatest percentage of heating/cooling. JMHO, Roger
*As someone who had remodeled a few houses, I will probably never use blown insulation in an attic again after having to clean up old blown insulation to repair the ceilings. That stuff is a hellish nightmare to clean up when you have to rip out the old ceiling. Just my $.02
*Alan, I've been there too, and my response is that houses should be made for the comfort of their occupants, and not the comfort of their builders. That's just our burden, and why construction guys and gals get paid the big bucks.Ducking,Andy
*Instead of blowing it on the attic floor, blow it in the roof plane between the rafters.Why waste the attic space? Bring the attic square footage inside the envelope and put it to use. No headroom for a living space? Do it anyway to minimize radiant gain.
*Mongo,Could you explain how to do this? We will need to insulate a cathedral ceiling (in between TJIs). I would like to figure out a way to do it with cellulose, but remember, I claim to be an idiot (see above post) So, can you pretty pleeeze explain how to do this? And, if you could, keep it simple; I am a blonde! :-) Seriously though, how would you do this? Thanks!Paula
*I am building a cape with 12/12 roof, 9.5" TJI's 24" OC. Before the knee walls go in, I plan to cover the rafters with a good poly, then 1x3 strapping 16" OC perpindicular to the i-joists. Slit the poly, blow in dry cellulose @ around 3lb/cubic foot. Pack the rafter cavity full. Use builders tape over the slits. Then cover with drywall. No venting at the soffits and ridge. I would do it with out the poly, but I would like to be able to see the insulation. Some advocate not using the vapor barrier. Just paint the drywall. Anyone have any comments?
*Charles,I think poly with cells is a bad idea. I think it's best for the cavity to be able to dry via diffusion to both sides, depending on which side is drier at any given time. That said, it's important to get the density up to where the cells are an effective air barrier, as that is how most moisture is supposedly carried into the cavities.Steve
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We are in the process of researchingg insulation options for our house. I would like to get some opinions on the Nu-Wool insulation or other wet-installed fill versus cellulose or fiberglass loose fill. The home will be built in northern Michigan this spring. Your help, opinions, and educated guesses are greatly appreciated!
Cami