DIY Insulating

[dave1949]

Right now we're working on the hottest June ever. Ever! It has been over 90 for 13 days in a row, no end in sight either. Near 100 yesterday. In August we'll need fire suits.

I've lived in a lot of hot places in the South including Florida. So far, none compares to Columbia, SC. Lou Holtz described Columbia as a screen door away from ****. Combine 96 degrees and 96% humidity and you just can't get cool. You sweat profusely but the sweat does not evaporate because of the high humidity. When sweat does not evaporate it does little or nothing to cool you and you end up wearing wet heavy cloths and getting dehydrated. When i played high school football in Columbia we took water breaks every 10 to 15 minutes and at the end of the 2 hour practice some of the bigger linemen would have lost 15 pounds! We weighed before and after practice. If you'd lost weight it meant you did not drink enough.

.

Years ago we took a July trip to the Carolinas, Outer Banks. My wife's cousin was living near Columbia at the time and we visited them of course. That trip cured me Even coming from NW Ohio, which can be a sticky place most of Jun-Jul-Aug. A local fellow told me they were having a 'wet hot', it was like getting hammered. I came away wondering how people survive there

I think hiring a professional insulation installer is not a bad idea. Not because of the heat, but because if they are good at at, it will come out better than doing it yourself. It's not a fun job no matter how you do it. I used a cellulose blower once, it came 'free' from the lumber yard if you purchased a lot of cellulose. It was junk, made the job harder. The chopper blades would get clogged up, the motor ran too hot, the air blower was on the weak side.
Dave.

 

[IslandTractor]

Air leaks? Guys, this is a cabin I built myself. It is mostly air leaks.

Well, think of it as keeping the mosquitos and other varmints out then. No need to be meticulous for air conditioning I suppose. As stated it is more of an issue for heating.

 

[Redbug]

George...Don't forget to use your tax credits for insulation! 30% of your cost up to $1500. I put in a new gas pack last year and got the credit...$1500...for a more energy efficient one. It was cheaper than a less efficient one using the credits. Save your receipts and file Form 5695. TurboTax includes it in their software, also.

Here...
Insulate Now with Owens Corning Insulation and Double Your Savings!
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf

At least you will save a little money...

 

[smstonypoint]

George...Don't forget to use your tax credits for insulation! 30% of your cost up to $1500. I put in a new gas pack last year and got the credit...$1500...for a more energy efficient one. It was cheaper than a less efficient one using the credits. Save your receipts and file Form 5695. TurboTax includes it in their software, also.

Here...
Insulate Now with Owens Corning Insulation and Double Your Savings!
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf

At least you will save a little money...

The way I understand it, the improvements have to be to the filer's main residence in order to claim the credit. I thought the OP's question applied to a second home.

Steve

 

[IslandTractor]

The way I understand it, the improvements have to be the filer's main residence in order to claim the credit. I thought the OP's question applied to a second home.

Steve

Get your wife to kick you out then claim the cabin as your main residence.

 

[smstonypoint]

Get your wife to kick you out then claim the cabin as your main residence.

And be penny wise and pound foolish.

Steve

 

[IslandTractor]

And be penny wise and pound foolish.

Steve

Nah, get her a nice bouquet of flowers and have her let you come back home after Dec 31. :thumbsup:

 

[/pine]

"Dead Air" in horizontal areas offers decent insulation values...

If your cabin is built up off the ground "underpinning" will help immensely...

I used foam (Dow board) to underpin my cabin and it makes a huge difference in the winter (keeping the cabin warm)...

...to avoid condensation I used foundation vents that automatically close when the tempature drops...(they use a brass coil thermostats) I think they were about $15 each...

 

[RadarTech]

"Dead Air" in horizontal areas offers decent insulation values...

If your cabin is built up off the ground "underpinning" will help immensely...

I used foam (Dow board) to underpin my cabin and it makes a huge difference in the winter (keeping the cabin warm)...

...to avoid condensation I used foundation vents that automatically close when the tempature drops...(they use a brass coil thermostats) I think they were about $15 each...

where did you find those?

J

 

[smstonypoint]

where did you find those?

J

I bought mine at Lowes if memory serves.

Steve