Insulation ?'s

SS MAYFLOAT

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May 17, 2001
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Year before last I remodeled a bedroom in my house. I put in larger windows, removed all the sheetrock, removed old 1 1/2" rock wool insulation, installed 3 1/2" fiberglass insulation, installed a vapor barrier, and then put up new sheetrock.<br /><br />Before<br /><br />
Before.jpg
<br /><br />After<br /><br />
After.jpg
<br /><br />Now here is my problem. I have more windows for the rest of the house. Some are the same size as the existing, and some are bigger. I would prefer just to demo the area around where I need to enlarge the opening and re-insulate it for the window. I'm trying to figure a way that I can re-insulate the rest of the walls without having to demo them.<br /><br />I was thinking about blowing it in, but not sure how well it would work. I don't mind plugging holes in sheetrock. That is easier than replacing all of it on the exterior walls.<br /><br />Any ideas? BTW, the outside of the house is aluminum with the black celotex backing it. <br /><br />Thanks
 

KRS

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Re: Insulation ?'s

YOu would probably need to pick out all of the old stuff to get a good.... er, um... blow. I don't think it would make sense to blow in unless you pulled out all of the old.
 

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Insulation ?'s

The rock wool is intalled with the facing towards the sheet rock as you can see in the top photo. With it being just an inch an a half, there still is a 2" space between it and the celotex. It would just be a matter of getting the nozzle of the hose to pass through the rock wool.<br /><br />Regardless of demo all the exterior walls or blowing in insulation, there is going to be a big ole mess. I have two bedrooms plus the living room to do. Might as well do it all in one job. :( <br /><br />Has anyone used the blown in fiberglass type stuff? Just wonder if it is less messy than the cellulose?
 

divo

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Re: Insulation ?'s

I have seen expandable foam used in situtations like this. They cut a small hole just below the top plate in each cell, then push in a flexible wand as far as it will go. Then pull it out slowly while injecting the foam. If the wand doesnt make it to the floor, they cut another hole just below where it stopped. It'll be airtight. Just make sure all holes are sealed before. It will expand through electrical boxes and holes for pipes ect. and a mess it will make if one is missed. Never in a house, but I have also seen little foam balls( about the size os BB's) that are just poured in through a small hole at the top. You can take the base trim off and make a small hole to make sure they are falling all the way to the bottom. I dont know what the R-value is of 2" blown in insulation, but I I doubt it would be worth the effort.
 

Xcusme

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Apr 21, 2003
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Re: Insulation ?'s

You're going to find that blowing either type of insulation into the existing cavity (with the rockwool) futile. The blowing agent (air in this case) will make a real mess of things in short order. You'd have to have an opening large enough for the air to escape the cavity. Spraying blind, you can't control the density of the insulation either.<br /><br />You're first project was the right way to do it. Pull the rock, old insulation etc. Use unfaced batts and sheet vapor barrier. Be sure to overlap and seal all edges too. Having sheet vapor barrier on top of the studs doesn't allow glueing the rock to the studs, so screwing (preferred) the rock or double nailing are the only options. As you know, keeping the moisture on the warm side of the insulation is a must, hence, the sheet vapor barrier. <br /><br />Nice job, BTW.
 

neumanns

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Re: Insulation ?'s

Good lord that ceiling is gorgeuos.......Hmm, I wonder what room I could do that to in my house.
 

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Insulation ?'s

Thanks for the comments! BTW there is a home theater system intergrated into the beams. Oh yes, it is nice! (especially for a hard hearing person like myself)<br /><br />I'm going to go ahead and demo the walls to get the job done right. I've gone to extensive measures so far, why stop now? <br /><br />I hope I can get these 3 rooms done before boating season. Just a tad bit under 3 months away. :D
 

Ron G

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Re: Insulation ?'s

You might as well do it right,the bedroom looks great what kind of lighting is over the beams rope lights?its real nice.
 

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Insulation ?'s

Ron G, the lights are flourscent. I got about 50 of them when we did a remodel at one of our stores. Picked out the newest ones and scrapped the rest.
 

salty87

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Aug 12, 2003
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Re: Insulation ?'s

ss mayfloat<br /><br />thanks, i copied that after pic. that's awesome.
 
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