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Insulation

bluedog225

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Jan 31, 2012
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Texas
Good morning,

It’s time to insulate the place. Pretty sure I’m going with blown cellulose.

I have this (first pic). I want this (second picture).

Any ideas what to call it? I keep running across the mesh to hold the insulation in. Is this ”wet” or “damp” blown?

Thanks

IMG_9835.jpeg


IMG_1052.jpeg
 
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mike93lx

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Richmond, VA
Dense pack cellulose. It's blown in

Edit: @Firebrick43 below has a way better post on it. I'd still diy rockwool


Not a diy thing, though.

I'd do rockwool. It's gotten expensive, but it can be done completely diy and if you are good about fitment, you'll have the same result
 
Last edited:

billconner

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Thousand Islands NYS
If you're going to sheath inside - drywall or ply or whatever - I'd put that up blow cellulose in. Leave a gap at top or drill holes.

You can sense pack yourself - takes an airlock type blower. Not sure what you can find for loan or rent today.

I will say I did cellulose and found a local company to do it all for very little more than I would have paid for just the cellulose to diy. Worth a call.
 

pima67

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Dec 5, 2009
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Tucson, AZ
When our house was insulated with cellulose, a fabric mesh was used to hold the stuff. Stays fluffy that way. See attached pic
 

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Firebrick43

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May 12, 2015
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14,224
Location
West central Indiana
Good morning,

It’s time to insulate the place. Pretty sure I’m going with blown cellulose.

I have this (first pic). I want this (second picture).

Any ideas what to call it? I keep running across the mesh to hold the insulation in. Is this ”wet” or “damp” blown?

Thanks




IMG_1052.jpeg
This is wet blown. There is a water nozzle that adds water to the cellulose and then a knife is run across the face of the studs and "planes" the surface. Stuff that ends on the ground is swept up and reused.

Dense pack has a fabric mesh that is glued to the face of the studs and then stapled on the edge to draw it as tight as possible. If you don't glue the face insulation can get between the face of the stud and mesh and cause issues with dry wall when its installed. A cut is made about head height and the blower hose shoved down in the cavity and as it fills up tight is slowly brought up until the hole is reached and then is shoved up and withdrawn down. The density is much higher which doesn't add R Value per se but increases resistance to air currents which raises the overall performance. I have done two buildings with dense pack if you have questions, both with mooney walls to add depth and reduce thermal bridging

https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/MooneyWall/MooneyWall.htm

Wet sprayed is pretty good however, nothing to sneeze. The big gotcha with wet spray is you really need to let it dry a few weeks depending on if AC or humidity before covering.
 
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bluedog225

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Joined
Jan 31, 2012
Messages
3,320
Location
Texas
This is wet blown. There is a water nozzle that adds water to the cellulose and then a knife is run across the face of the studs and "planes" the surface. Stuff that ends on the ground is swept up and reused.

Dense pack has a fabric mesh that is glued to the face of the studs and then stapled on the edge to draw it as tight as possible. If you don't glue the face insulation can get between the face of the stud and mesh and cause issues with dry wall when its installed. A cut is made about head height and the blower hose shoved down in the cavity and as it fills up tight is slowly brought up until the hole is reached and then is shoved up and withdrawn down. The density is much higher which doesn't add R Value per se but increases resistance to air currents which raises the overall performance. I have done two buildings with dense pack if you have questions, both with mooney walls to add depth and reduce thermal bridging

https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/MooneyWall/MooneyWall.htm

Wet sprayed is pretty good however, nothing to sneeze. The big gotcha with wet spray is you really need to let it dry a few weeks depending on if AC or humidity before covering.

Thanks. I didn’t know dense was better in some ways.

First I’ve heard of gluing. The vids I’ve seen are stapled only.

Good to know.
 
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bluedog225

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Texas
That Mooney wall looks like would be just the thing for my particular wall system.

and rolling the glue answered my other question.

Thanks!
 

gregs

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Mar 16, 2007
Messages
1,609
Do they do any dense pack to existing attic spaces? I am planning on upgrading the insulation of our house in the winter. It has typical faced R19 in the ceilings. I am going to spend some time air sealing it first, then adding some type of insulation on top of the existing.
 
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bluedog225

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Texas
I don’t think so. I put about 12” of cellulose on top of my batts in my old 50s house. Made sure to keep the vents clear. Works great. It just settled in.
 

Professor Fate

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Joined
May 18, 2020
Messages
180
Location
Gainesville FL
Good morning,

It’s time to insulate the place. Pretty sure I’m going with blown cellulose.

I have this (first pic). I want this (second picture).

Any ideas what to call it? I keep running across the mesh to hold the insulation in. Is this ”wet” or “damp” blown?

Thanks

IMG_9835.jpeg


IMG_1052.jpeg

That is called Cocoon (TM) insulation. Installed with a borate solution that is a fire retardant and resists mold and insects. I've been using it for 20 years in my new construction. You can also hang drywall over it a couple of days after installation.

It is not really a DIY installation, but it is very effective and cheaper than foam.
 

mike93lx

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Dec 9, 2013
Messages
37,941
Location
Richmond, VA
Do they do any dense pack to existing attic spaces? I am planning on upgrading the insulation of our house in the winter. It has typical faced R19 in the ceilings. I am going to spend some time air sealing it first, then adding some type of insulation on top of the existing.
Dense pack needs a cavity to pack into.
 
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