Rookie Home Insulation Question

Shane361 · 03-12-2013, 07:56 PM

Sheetrock is going up in the livingroom Friday. Tearing off paneling now. Should I replace the insulation? Not sure if it has a life expectancy or not. Thanks in advance...and dont be too hard on me.

LXtasy · 03-12-2013, 08:09 PM

I am impressed that there was some insulation in that wall honestly

Shane361 · 03-12-2013, 08:12 PM

Yeah, the garage is rather cold in the winter. What pisses me off is the lack of imsulation around the garage door...NONE.

03SVTCOBRA · 03-12-2013, 08:42 PM

Im pretty sure it cant really go bad. From the look of it i would probably just go right back over it.

DIGGLER · 03-12-2013, 08:49 PM

yup i would leave it. should work fine.

Carlrx7 · 03-12-2013, 09:53 PM

holmes on homes would rip that shit out and spray foam!

DIGGLER · 03-12-2013, 09:55 PM

better to save your money on the walls and invest it into the attic, imo.

2001hawk · 03-13-2013, 01:18 AM

Most insulation is fiberglass, so it can't really go bad. I put extra insulation in my attic when I moved in. It was the blow-in cellulose kind. It was a little messy because I had the hopper inside, but if you add more of it at a decent temperature time of the year you can keep it outside and run the line through a door or window. The main thing you are going to be looking at is your R rating on it.

FRDnemesis · 03-13-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03SVTCOBRA

Im pretty sure it cant really go bad. From the look of it i would probably just go right back over it.

^^^Yeah, the older stuff is loaded with formaldehyde, so it will last longer than your house.

Shane361 · 03-13-2013, 10:05 AM

Good to know guys thanks. We spent till 10 last night removing the paneling, floorboards and crown to be ready. Tonight I am installing new (WHITE) light switches and 110 outlets. Sure will look better once this is completed!

REDRAGTOPRS · 03-13-2013, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlrx7

holmes on homes would rip that shit out and spray foam!

LOL! I love that show! I realize that he does a lot of extra work, and spends a lot of extra money where he doesn't have to though.....

LXtasy · 03-13-2013, 12:54 PM

Spray foam is the best imo. Spray foam roof joist and exterior walls and you have a very comfortable home. Attics are easier to work in during the summer months.

Carlrx7 · 03-13-2013, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LXtasy

Spray foam is the best imo. Spray foam roof joist and exterior walls and you have a very comfortable home. Attics are easier to work in during the summer months.

I would think the heat would make it unbearable.

DIGGLER · 03-13-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlrx7

I would think the heat would make it unbearable.

x2 i would much rather work in a 50 degree attic than a 110 degree attic! why is the foam insulation better than the fiberglass? higher r value per square inch i guess?

Shane361 · 03-13-2013, 05:48 PM

I was looking into the attic ceiling/rafters metal looking spray for keeping out the heat. Not sure how good it works or the cost though.

03SVTCOBRA · 03-13-2013, 05:53 PM

Im pretty sure at home depot if you buy the spray type insulation (not the foam) they let you rent the machine to spray it for free.

LXtasy · 03-13-2013, 05:55 PM

With spray foam in the attic they spray foam the underside of the roof. You can remove insulation that you currently have. We typically will add a 4" supply vent into the attic, dehumidifiers etc. But these are also in multi million dollar homes. Me personally, i would love to get my home spray foamed.

DIGGLER · 03-13-2013, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LXtasy

With spray foam in the attic they spray foam the underside of the roof. You can remove insulation that you currently have. We typically will add a 4" supply vent into the attic, dehumidifiers etc. But these are also in multi million dollar homes. Me personally, i would love to get my home spray foamed.

i considered sealing up my basement with a liner and running a humidifier down there. (in the crawlspace, too.)
not sure about the attic deal, but a guy told me awhile back a properly designed attic should only be a few degrees higher than the temps outside. it should have a ridge vent and soffit vents to somewhat equal each other in sq.ft. hot air goes out the ridge vent, and cool air gets pulled into the attic from the soffits. gets rid of the stale/humid air up there since all the air will be getting moved/replaced constantly. then there should be about 12-15" of insulation up there.

LXtasy · 03-13-2013, 09:03 PM

http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-b...oam-Insulation

I hardly get to experience an attic that is just a couple of degrees warmer than outside with typical insulation and ridge vents unless it is this time of the year. During the summer I usually see at least a 20 degree difference. Remember too, that black roofs do a great job of retaining heat.

Carlrx7 · 03-13-2013, 09:21 PM

no expert, but the attic to be the same temp as the outside to prevent mold growth. you want the underside of the roof to breath, hence the purpose of roof and eve vents, if you install insulation onto the underside of the roof, you are going to have issues.

as for exterior walls, install some vapor barrier over the insulation instead of using spray foam, 4-6mil depending on code here.

"Do it right, the first time" and "it always cost more to do it twice." my favorite quotes.

-Carl

03-12-2013, 07:56 PM	#1
Shane361 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Creek Posts: 2,622	Rookie Home Insulation Question Sheetrock is going up in the livingroom Friday. Tearing off paneling now. Should I replace the insulation? Not sure if it has a life expectancy or not. Thanks in advance...and dont be too hard on me. __________________ 2015 Comp Orange Procharged GT Mustang 2018 Grey Ford F150 XLT Sport 4x4

03-12-2013, 08:09 PM	#2
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	I am impressed that there was some insulation in that wall honestly __________________

03-12-2013, 08:12 PM	#3
Shane361 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Creek Posts: 2,622	Yeah, the garage is rather cold in the winter. What pisses me off is the lack of imsulation around the garage door...NONE. __________________ 2015 Comp Orange Procharged GT Mustang 2018 Grey Ford F150 XLT Sport 4x4

03-12-2013, 08:42 PM	#4
03SVTCOBRA Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,041	Im pretty sure it cant really go bad. From the look of it i would probably just go right back over it. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

03-12-2013, 09:53 PM	#6
Carlrx7 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ladson,SC Posts: 3,813	holmes on homes would rip that shit out and spray foam! __________________ Dark Aladdin

03-12-2013, 08:49 PM	#5
DIGGLER Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,458	yup i would leave it. should work fine.

03-12-2013, 09:55 PM	#7
DIGGLER Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,458	better to save your money on the walls and invest it into the attic, imo.

03-13-2013, 01:18 AM	#8
2001hawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,224	Most insulation is fiberglass, so it can't really go bad. I put extra insulation in my attic when I moved in. It was the blow-in cellulose kind. It was a little messy because I had the hopper inside, but if you add more of it at a decent temperature time of the year you can keep it outside and run the line through a door or window. The main thing you are going to be looking at is your R rating on it. __________________ People call me John, Jim, or Bobby.

03-13-2013, 10:05 AM	#10
Shane361 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Creek Posts: 2,622	Good to know guys thanks. We spent till 10 last night removing the paneling, floorboards and crown to be ready. Tonight I am installing new (WHITE) light switches and 110 outlets. Sure will look better once this is completed! __________________ 2015 Comp Orange Procharged GT Mustang 2018 Grey Ford F150 XLT Sport 4x4

03-13-2013, 12:54 PM	#12
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	Spray foam is the best imo. Spray foam roof joist and exterior walls and you have a very comfortable home. Attics are easier to work in during the summer months. __________________

03-13-2013, 05:48 PM	#15
Shane361 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Creek Posts: 2,622	I was looking into the attic ceiling/rafters metal looking spray for keeping out the heat. Not sure how good it works or the cost though. __________________ 2015 Comp Orange Procharged GT Mustang 2018 Grey Ford F150 XLT Sport 4x4

03-13-2013, 05:53 PM	#16
03SVTCOBRA Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,041	Im pretty sure at home depot if you buy the spray type insulation (not the foam) they let you rent the machine to spray it for free. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

03-13-2013, 05:55 PM	#17
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	With spray foam in the attic they spray foam the underside of the roof. You can remove insulation that you currently have. We typically will add a 4" supply vent into the attic, dehumidifiers etc. But these are also in multi million dollar homes. Me personally, i would love to get my home spray foamed. __________________

03-13-2013, 09:03 PM	#19
LXtasy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 9,564	http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-b...oam-Insulation I hardly get to experience an attic that is just a couple of degrees warmer than outside with typical insulation and ridge vents unless it is this time of the year. During the summer I usually see at least a 20 degree difference. Remember too, that black roofs do a great job of retaining heat. __________________

03-13-2013, 09:21 PM	#20
Carlrx7 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ladson,SC Posts: 3,813	no expert, but the attic to be the same temp as the outside to prevent mold growth. you want the underside of the roof to breath, hence the purpose of roof and eve vents, if you install insulation onto the underside of the roof, you are going to have issues. as for exterior walls, install some vapor barrier over the insulation instead of using spray foam, 4-6mil depending on code here. "Do it right, the first time" and "it always cost more to do it twice." my favorite quotes. -Carl __________________ Dark Aladdin