fibreglass insulation availability

[billconner]

I went to local building supply and discovered 6" fibreglass has become rare. I wanted unfaced 23 x 96 R19 batts - basic - but simply cant find any 6" unfaced fibreglass - R19 or R21, 16 or 24 at local (regional 5 store) supply or any HD or Lowes within 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Best I found was a 5 bag package (I wanted 4) at Lowe's with a Halloween in store pickup.

Is this a nationwide shortage or a phase out?

 

[mrbill55]

can’t say I’ve ever seen a box store carry 6” insulation, perhaps buy 12-16” and rip it down to your size requirements.

Bill S.

 

[loganb]

Looks like we have it in Menards locally...doesn't do you any good in NYS though

 

[billconner]

can’t say I’ve ever seen a box store carry 6” insulation, perhaps buy 12-16” and rip it down to your size requirements.

Bill S.

For R19 2x6 walls?

 

[mrbill55]

For R19 2x6 walls?

I misread that you were looking for 6” wide bats. 11 hours on the road yesterday (have a great view of lower manhattan at the moment) I can only blame it on fatigue

Bill S

 

[Two Speed]

Plenty available up here if you are up for a roadtrip. Check if there are fibreglass import regulations first;

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/owens-corning-r-20-pink-next-gen-fiberglas-insulation-15-inch-x-47-inch-x-6-inch-78-3-sq-ft-/1000181137

 

[billconner]

Interesting. Just an hours drive. Worse case seems to be 4.9% tariff. Even with that and with exchange rate, may be less than if it was in stock in US.

Thank you! Will call tomorrow if my last attempt a local building supply fizzels.

 

[wssix99]

This has been happening for decades! Every time interest rates go up or inflation happens, (we have both now) demand for insultation goes up and it becomes scarce.

When people stop buying houses or feel a pinch on their energy bills, they start insulating. (Insulation is an easy DIY project that people commonly go to for investing in their current properties.)

Adding to the current situation are prior shortages from COVID disruptions and a hosing boom (before interest rates started to come up.)

 

[Zeke]

I misread that you were looking for 6” wide bats. 11 hours on the road yesterday (have a great view of lower manhattan at the moment) I can only blame it on fatigue

Bill S

No such thing as a 6 inch wide bat. That 11 hours is working on you.

 

[billconner]

Could use two strips of fiberglass pipe insulation - 3" wide.

 

[cannuck]

I am stuck with similar problem. Just removed the old a/c unit through wall of my workshop, so now need a single batt of 6"/R19 before closing it up. Easy to buy a huge bundle, but one single sheet? Will try the RTM yards when I get home.

 

[harleybear66]

try a commercial steel stud and drywall supplier. i am in the commercial carpentry business and that is a very common product for commercial metal stud interior partitions. it comes 96in long but will be 24in wide because of the metal stud cavity. the home improvement stores don't stock it because dyi customers really don't need that type.

years ago i actually used some in my home. previous owner only had r-19 faced so i added another r-19 unfaced layer over that. the extra 1 1/2 inches in width helped get it snug going around the upright angled truss members.

 

[mrbill55]

No such thing as a 6 inch wide bat. That 11 hours is working on you.

Yes, splitting the drive home into two days, 8 hours today, 4 tomorrow. Deer mating season, not driving the last 4, fatigued, and in the dark. SWMBO approves of this strategy

Bill S.

 

[billconner]

try a commercial steel stud and drywall supplier. i am in the commercial carpentry business and that is a very common product for commercial metal stud interior partitions. it comes 96in long but will be 24in wide because of the metal stud cavity. the home improvement stores don't stock it because dyi customers really don't need that type.

years ago i actually used some in my home. previous owner only had r-19 faced so i added another r-19 unfaced layer over that. the extra 1 1/2 inches in width helped get it snug going around the upright angled truss members.

I'll try that, though this is rural area and not sure I'll find it. Since I'm stacking it horizontally between 2 - 3 1/2" wall on a 12" stem wall, should be fine.

Quick search show none closer than HD in Canada.

But thank you.

 

[billconner]

Drove to Kingston HD. On line they had 20 bundles of 6x23 r19. Called early they said 24. Got there 3. I needed 5. Picked up the 3 plus 3 - 15". Install going fine. Thanks to all who posted, especially @Two Speed !

 

[Two Speed]

Glad you got something. ***** about the online stock being wrong, or somebody making a big buy before you got there.