Cellulose insulation an eco friendly alternative to conventional insulation primarily comprises newspaper shreds.
Old attic walls made of paper.
Manufactured by greenfiber it also contains up to.
Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.
It needs a certain amount of loft to work properly.
How to replace it.
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.
One of the more sophisticated products lately is spray foam insulation.
Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.
It is priced at about 12 for a 19 pound bag.
Please note simply placing your old clothes around the attic constitutes a fire hazard not to mention a possible nesting haven for rodents.
Always read manufacturers instructions and safety guidelines before beginning your project.
The most common blown in material used but it can rot and grow moldy if exposed to moisture.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
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.
You can install it in your home usually in the attic to save energy and insulate the house.
Fibers from recycled post consumer paper that are treated for insect and fire resistance.
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.
Don t mash or compress the insulation into the space.
Home depot sells greenfiber in individual bales by the pallet and offers an all borate product.
Use r 30 insulation for the ceiling and r 13 for the walls.
Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a.
As we mentioned at the beginning insulation has come a long way in the past several years.
If building a knee wall for storage like karl did with this project make sure to insulate that area as well.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
Fibers from rock or recycled slag from blast furnaces.
It likely has the same 100 year old kraft paper behind it that provides virtually no water proofing support.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.