If building a knee wall for storage like karl did with this project make sure to insulate that area as well.
Old attic walls made of paper.
Always read manufacturers instructions and safety guidelines before beginning your project.
Use r 30 insulation for the ceiling and r 13 for the walls.
Not measured in r values.
Designed to keep your home cool.
Install cellulose insulation by blowing it into the cavities in the attic with an blower machine.
One of the more sophisticated products lately is spray foam insulation.
Most often used for attics since most heat enters through the attic.
Truevalue stores offer cocoon insulation at less than 10 per 19 pound bag.
Manufactured by greenfiber it also contains up to.
If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos.
Fibers from rock or recycled slag from blast furnaces.
Please note simply placing your old clothes around the attic constitutes a fire hazard not to mention a possible nesting haven for rodents.
It likely has the same 100 year old kraft paper behind it that provides virtually no water proofing support.
It needs a certain amount of loft to work properly.
Now that we know the old attic insulation types on the market the question is whether there is a newer more modern alternative available.
Greenfiber is described by the manufacturer as made with up to 85 recycled material and has an r value of 3 7 per inch.
It is priced at about 12 for a 19 pound bag.
Fibers from recycled post consumer paper that are treated for insect and fire resistance.
You can install it in your home usually in the attic to save energy and insulate the house.
There are a couple creative yet expensive ways i would consider retroactively insulating the walls of an old house if you are in a far northern climate where it might make financial sense.
Recycled clothing insulation has been properly treated for fire safety.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
Made from a reflective material such as aluminum foil over a substrate like kraft paper or foam board.
How to replace it.
Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.
Don t mash or compress the insulation into the space.
Best for attics unfinished walls ceilings floors and attached garages in hot climates.
As we mentioned at the beginning insulation has come a long way in the past several years.
Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.