Any advice on loft insulation?

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

I have taken on a new project for the summer, whilst I wait for the next delivery of parts for my 911. The house we live in is very old, and the loft still had the original insulation - wood-chipping and newspaper, a nice collection of dry stuff just looking for a spark to burn the house down

I have booked for a company to come and suck out the remaining wood-chippings on Thursday, and plan to fit new insulation during the next weekend. And here in is my problem - what is the best product to go for?
And good advice would be appreciated.

id10t · 06-26-2007, 04:45 AM

My mom's house has blown in loose stuff, royal pain to get up in there and do anything except where the plywood is laid down already.

I have a double dose of sheets of insulation up in my attic, very easy to work around - I added a LOT of CAT5 and coax cable, simply lift the sheet, do whats needed, put sheet back down.

Rot 911 · 06-26-2007, 06:23 AM

In these old houses (like mine) it is a pain in the ass to try and cut and lay fiberglass bat insulation so I say go with the blow in insulation. All of the blow in insulation now has flame retardent properties. About the deepest you can blow in and not have it pack down is about 10 inches. Compared with what you have, that should be quite an improvement.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Clean it all out and put in spray foam insulation. It's a dirty job but the results are worth it!

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Thank you all so far. I was having the same thoughts as you Kurt, but worried about insulation quality and coverage with the blow in stuff?
Art, what is foam insulation?

Neilk · 06-26-2007, 06:41 AM

What do you if you have recessed/can lights?

In our house, the previous owners just cleared the insulation around the lights so there is a 6" insulation gap around them. Does someone make little "hats" that you can place over the lights and then blow insulation over them?

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Neilk
What do you if you have recessed/can lights?

In our house, the previous owners just cleared the insulation around the lights so there is a 6" insulation gap around them. Does someone make little "hats" that you can place over the lights and then blow insulation over them?

Yes you can get hats. I have seen them in most DIY shops.

Rot 911 · 06-26-2007, 06:45 AM

Blow in actually has better air sealing qualities in older houses than fiberglass as you can get it in all the nooks and crannies that you can't do with fiberglass bats. It has about the same R-value per inch as fiberglass.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

I will have to look more into the blow in stuff then Kurt.

Rot 911 · 06-26-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kroggers
I will have to look more into the blow in stuff then Kurt.

Here in the U.S. you can go to your local home improvement store and rent the machine and blow the insulation in yourself. Not sure if you have that option where you live. If you can rent the machine, keep in mind it is a 2 person operation. One person to load the hopper with the insulation and one up in the attic with the hose. Doesn't take long to do. Maybe 1-2 hours.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Kroggers,
Here is an example of the "spray foam insulation" I was referring to...

http://www.fomofoam.com/

turbo6bar · 06-26-2007, 08:36 AM

I've been researching insulation for a recently purchased foreclosure which has bare stud walls.

Spray foam is definitely the best for insulating performance, but the cost is quite high, especially when purchased in DIY kits at the above link.$$$$$

Cellulose is actually quite inexpensive, and very cheap if you do it yourself. I priced it out at $0.35/SF or $3,75US per square metre for cellulose at 10" thick . Fiberglass insulation is much more expensive and does not provide better performance.

I presume the climate in Sweden is quite cold, so you will need to evaluate the cost of more/better insulation versus future energy savings.
Jurgen