Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.
Old attic walls made of paper.
Don t mash or compress the insulation into the space.
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.
Fibers from recycled post consumer paper that are treated for insect and fire resistance.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
Use r 30 insulation for the ceiling and r 13 for the walls.
It is priced at about 12 for a 19 pound bag.
It likely has the same 100 year old kraft paper behind it that provides virtually no water proofing support.
Designed to keep your home cool.
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.
Fibers from rock or recycled slag from blast furnaces.
Best for attics unfinished walls ceilings floors and attached garages in hot climates.
One of the more sophisticated products lately is spray foam insulation.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.
Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a.
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.
It needs a certain amount of loft to work properly.
As we mentioned at the beginning insulation has come a long way in the past several years.
Home depot sells greenfiber in individual bales by the pallet and offers an all borate product.
How to replace it.
You can install it in your home usually in the attic to save energy and insulate the house.
Truevalue stores offer cocoon insulation at less than 10 per 19 pound bag.
Not measured in r values.
Cellulose insulation an eco friendly alternative to conventional insulation primarily comprises newspaper shreds.
The most common blown in material used but it can rot and grow moldy if exposed to moisture.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
Install cellulose insulation by blowing it into the cavities in the attic with an blower machine.
Most often used for attics since most heat enters through the attic.
Manufactured by greenfiber it also contains up to.
Recycled clothing insulation has been properly treated for fire safety.
Please note simply placing your old clothes around the attic constitutes a fire hazard not to mention a possible nesting haven for rodents.