Dense pack cellulose insulation?

[zeekh]

HAs anyone done this DIY? Did you use the Lowes/Home depot type machine? Is the cellulose the same stuff they sell at Lowes or HD?

Thanks

 

[mike93lx]

They offer a rebtal/loaner dense pack machine? I thought it was a loose fill

 

[zeekh]

Not sure if the machines would be the same. Just pushing more cellulose in the same space

 

[FredWanaker]

I think the machines the big box stores loan / rent are loose fill. Here is a good article on dense pack. Completely different and it requires extra prep. https://www.finehomebuilding.com/pr...on/dense-pack-cellulose-insulation-done-right

 

[billconner]

Good article. As it points out, possible to dense pack with a loaner machine but not fast or easy. I did some, replacing hose with a smaller one. Also hard to "lean" the mix of air and cellulose. You want a lot of air and less material to sort of blast the material so it packs tightly.

I'm not doing it again, at least if I can find a competent contractor.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have done it three times. The home depot/lowes machines are garbage and will not do it. These are about the size of a 55 gallon drum and same shape. They have no control of the air nor is it strong enough.

Our menards however has a large krenol machine that you can control both the speed of the material being fed in and the flow of the air. It works well to dense pack.

 

[Wiz02]

I have done it three times. The home depot/lowes machines are garbage and will not do it. These are about the size of a 55 gallon drum and same shape. They have no control of the air nor is it strong enough.

Our menards however has a large krenol machine that you can control both the speed of the material being fed in and the flow of the air. It works well to dense pack.

Thanks for the information, I will definitely keep this in mind when I insulate my garage.

 

[pcmeiners]

Used Home depot machines in the past ( >10 years ago) on closed wall homes with cellulose. To get a dense pack pack I needed to drill at least 2 holes per stud ( 8' height ) approx 18" from the top and bottom, run the machine until it bogs down at each hole, changing direction of the hose. I did not use the restrictive nozzle they supply, slow and caused to many clogs. The fill will settle if not packed.
Biggest issue, aside from the dust from drilling/cellulose with closed walls is finding all stud cavities and repairing the holes. As to the different brands, there is not much difference, fire retardant could be different (borate is good), and package weight varies (the heavier the better). Definitely check the weight as they offer multiple weight packages, at a wide range of prices.

 

[zeekh]

Thanks for the replies. Walls are open right now so I have all options. Walls are 10' I was wondering if I could put netting say half way up so it could be packed easier then then do the second half. If it was for hating fiberglass insulation I would go that route because installtion pretty straight forward.

 

[mike93lx]

If it's all open, I would just do rockwool. No machine, no mess

 

[zeekh]

If it's all open, I would just do rockwool. No machine, no mess

Yes its all open, but I think rock wool is itchy also. Spray foam is too expensive plus its just a garage.

 

[Firebrick43]

Thanks for the replies. Walls are open right now so I have all options. Walls are 10' I was wondering if I could put netting say half way up so it could be packed easier then then do the second half. If it was for hating fiberglass insulation I would go that route because installtion pretty straight forward.

You do it all the way up. Poke a hole 6' up and shove the hose down to the bottom. As it packs you slowly pull the hose back. I wasn't doing 10' walls(8') but I could get the insulation to stay and pack then from the top down to the 6' hole. You will need a nozzle on the end of the hose to neck it down a little so it increases the velocity. With the proper machine you need to lower the insulation feed rate and have all the air possible to dense pack it. You cant pack to the 3.5lbs per square foot plus density with enclosed walls.

Make sure you staple in the edge of the stud on both sides and then roll glue where the studs are to keep the insulation getting between the face of the stud and the netting.

 

[mike93lx]

Yes its all open, but I think rock wool is itchy also. Spray foam is too expensive plus its just a garage.

Itchy? Have you used it before? I have and haven't experienced that

 

[Firebrick43]

Itchy? Have you used it before? I have and haven't experienced that

All the mineral wool I have installed is itchy. Maybe not as bad as fiberglass but itchy nevertheless.

 

[nadogail]

I remember the University Of Alaska suggesting that Sawdust be used as insulation for residential construction. Boric Acid can be added to the cellulose fill to control pests.
Sawdust is a byproduct of Sawmills and used to be almost free, unless there is an associated use it as fuel or particle board.
Hammer Mills turn old newspaper and Boric Acid into Cellulose Insulation.
Hammer Mills are used to prepare grains into Animal Feed.
Those of us who live in cities are often far away from Hammer Mills.

 

[kj_mustang]

If wiring and plumbing is done, I would get a quote for wet dense pack cellulose from a company. It was very reasonable to do my house and is higher R value than dry cellulose.

 

[zeekh]

Itchy? Have you used it before? I have and haven't experienced that

No I hve never used it before. Well, not in any large amount. At work we used for a very small project and it seemed itchy then.

 

[Notgrownup]

I would look into batt insulation like rock wool , you ensure full coverage. Even if blowing insulation is good there still might be a void.

 

[Firebrick43]

I would look into batt insulation like rock wool , you ensure full coverage. Even if blowing insulation is good there still might be a void.

If you are using the dense pack cellulose you can tell visually and by feel if there is a void. Its virtually impossible to put voids in it and not know.

 

[slow84lx]

Having used rockwool several times i will never again touch fiberglass insulation. On one occasion I did find it to be itchy. I normally wear gloves and long sleeve shirts when handling it now. No more itchiness.

If the walls are open I would use rock wool. Simple, quick, and fairly cheap. My favorite thing about rockwool is the resistance to flammability.

If you desire dense pack cellulose the wet option seems to be a good choice if it is in the budget.

 

[Firebrick43]

Having used rockwool several times i will never again touch fiberglass insulation. On one occasion I did find it to be itchy. I normally wear gloves and long sleeve shirts when handling it now. No more itchiness.

If the walls are open I would use rock wool. Simple, quick, and fairly cheap. My favorite thing about rockwool is the resistance to flammability.

If you desire dense pack cellulose the wet option seems to be a good choice if it is in the budget.

Wet sprayed cellulose isn't dense pack. It can have voids and shrinkage as it drys.