DIY Insulating

[N80]

After 5 years of underpowered window units and pain in the rear kerosene heaters I finally had central heat and air installed in my cabin.

Of course it has zero insulation underneath or in the attic space and I guess I need to do it. I have no idea what I need or how to do it.

I would appreciate any pointers you guys can give me. The cabin is 900 sq feet and used primarily on the weekends so energy efficiency is not a huge priority. So I don't know what R values I need. It is located in the south. Lows in the low 20's on occasions. Highs, like today, near 100. The unit is a heat pump, all electric.

Attic has trusses, floor/crawl space has typical joists.

Thanks.

 

[BTDT2]

Lowe's now carries a white fiberglass blow in type insulation that I was very impressed with. My attic looks a little like snow drifts, after adding to existing insulation. I got a little carried away with depth in some places, but we can tell the difference in unit cycling (heat and a/c),, and our electric bill. Buy enough and you get free rental of the machine. Ask whoever you don't like to keep the hopper full and sit on your butt in the attic and spray the stuff like a nozzle on a garden hose. It's so light and flies so far, you might want to sneak some liquid refreshment up there, because the hopper person has all the work.:thumbsup:

 

[smstonypoint]

George,

I live in SC too, and I wouldn't want to spend anytime in a SC attic until next November, if then. Given a choice between feeding the hopper and being in the attic, give me feeding the hopper between March and October.

I would get recommendations and bids from reputable insulation companies.

Steve

PS. I wouldn't relish the thought of working with fiberglass batts in a crawlspace, especially if it has limited headroom.

 

[RadarTech]

N80,

I did all the the insulation for the attic and basement in our house in WNC. I did it by myself...

The arctic cat insulation I used was really easy to use.. I did the upstairs in 6 hours or so even though I had to run and down stairs and had to pull the machine apart to put the chain back on the gears..

anway, the machine I had, you took the "shrink wrapped" insulation and cut the package in half and put in half and used the cutter blade as it was pushed in...
Once I got a motion down, I could feed a package in in less than a minute...

Now if I had help I could have done that in half the time..

900 sq ft... should take less than 2 hours from initial blow to pullng the hose out of the ceiling... UNLESS you have something other than an open ceiling...


Lowes' has these free paper things you can staple to the joists with reccomendations on how deep to make the insulation.....



give them a visit..

J

 

[Travelover]

Just a tip - know about all those nails holding down the shingles? - well, the pointy ends are all sticking out on the underside of the roof, just waiting for your head to glance against them. Don't ask how I know. :laughing:

 

[RadarTech]

N80---
is this the cabin you had pictures of in the post:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/163875-rare-snow-cabin-picture.html

Great looking cabin BTW..

It looks like there really is not any room in the attic...


As a second thought for the crawl space you could use that sheet insulation...

whatcha think???



J

 

[timswi]

Blow in for the attic would work (don't cover the soffits, need airflow)...You'll probably need spray foam or bat with a covering for underneath if it's not a basement, if it is..bat will work fine.

 

[N80]

Yes, that's it. There is lots of attic space over the bedrooms. There is less over the high ceiling in the great room but it is still easy to move around up there between the scissor trusses.

I had not thought about blowing insulation in. I just assumed I'd use the rolled stuff and unroll it between the trusses in the attic.

 

[dave1949]

Yes, that's it. There is lots of attic space over the bedrooms. There is less over the high ceiling in the great room but it is still easy to move around up there between the scissor trusses.

I had not thought about blowing insulation in. I just assumed I'd use the rolled stuff and unroll it between the trusses in the attic.

That can be harder than blowing. The fiberglass catches on everything and you want it fit snuggly between the trusses. There will be fiberglass dust all over in the air, so wear a mask and long sleeves. Ditto for blowing. I'd take Steve's advice a make it a late fall/early winter project.
Dave.

 

[RadarTech]

as for timing...
depending on the size of space to be done at one time... you could do it now..


If you can get TEG's attention he uses they paper coveralls for painting....
Skivvies and paper coveralls would be cooler than jeans and a long sleeve shirt..


J