leave the plaster? when adding a double stud wall
albion10
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Howdy am remodeling a grand old, 108 years, home. It is ballon framed plastered walls. Going to super insulate it by adding a 2″ space and then 2by4″ wall and fill all with cellulose. New interior wall will be drywall. Ok i am wondering why remove the plaster and lath. There is a minor insullation value in the plaster staying. A bunch of demo an plaster dust is avoided by not removing it.. Why not leave it? I plan on opening areas to ensure the dense packed cellulose is installed before adding the new spaced interior wall and then insullating it. Anyone done this or why not?
Replies
Do you plan to open the stud bays in the old plaster wall to fill with insulation?
Yes just enough to allow the application of the dense pack insulation.
I see no reason not to leave the plaster, but you may want to take advantage of the situation and up grade some shear panels. You can nail plywood directly over the plaster, but use 16d nails instead of 8d. Make sure the perimiter is nailed to the framing and not just the lath.
Fire blocking
Extremely important!!! If this house is truely balloon framed and lacks fire blocking at any floor level, you should be sure to install it. It could save lives.
Thanks Mike. Yes its a ture balloon and fireblocking in areas i have acess to has been done. However with cellulose being treated for fire retarding and dense pac reducing air movement i am under the impression that adding 2by material is not needed ... The sheer walls is a good idea the home is built with diagional 1 by12" non spaced materials so as I understand it this method allows sheer resisitance already.