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Posted by Steve Barker on March 1, 2007, 8:08 pm
Cellulose is the only way to go. Attics or walls. It's fire retardant, and
has more r value per inch. And there's no reason for it to get wet, but if
it does, it just dries out. As a matter of fact, it is applied wet.
check out www.centralfiber.com
--
Steve Barker
>
> I need to insulate the attic, and I have some questions/concerns I
> hope someone can help me out.
>
> I have 2x6 in the attic, and it is about 80-90% covered with really
> old what appears to be unfaced R19 fiberglass batts. It looks very
> dirty (I replaced the roof so lots of dust falled on it) and aged.
> Some of it is only half the height of the 2x6.
>
> I've gotten some bids, and it is about $1400 for blow-in fiberglass,
> and $1100 for blow-in cellulose of R30. All of them said I can leave
> what I have up there, and just blow on top of it. (I am in San
> Francisco area and the recommended attic is R38)
>
> 1) Is it good to blow on top of the old/aged/molded fiberglass? Should
> I remove it and start clean? Does it insulate better that way?
>
> 2) fiberglass guys claims that cellulose will rot the wiring and
> plumbing if it get wet, and will degrade. It is also very dusty which
> is a big concern for me. Cellulose guy says fiberglass has health
> risks. I have heating duct in the attic, and I am concerned about the
> fiberglass, or the cellulose dust being drawn into the duct and gets
> everywhere. Fiberglass guy says because my house is relatively old
> (1950ish), he wasn't sure if I have tube/wire electrical wire up there
> and cellulose is not safe. The cellulose guy said I don't need to
> worry about it.
>
> I am thinking about replacing the fiberglass wrapping around my
> heating duct with more modern ones to seal off any gaps before I blow
> the insulation up there. Right now I am leaning toward fiberglass as
> it won't age or settle, and if I get a roof leak it won't get
> destroyed. But how do I know if the installer won't fluff the blow-in?
>
> 3) The cellulose guy quoted me 8.1" for R30. I just don't like that
> 8.1". I mean how the hell is he going to make sure that the attic is
> 8.1, not 8, or 7.5? by eye balling it? Seems like I am paying by the
> inch yet I have no easy way of verifying it. (I can't really walk in
> the attic after it's done..) One of the fiberglass guy said they've
> done this for so long, that they just know if it's 12" or not. Is it
> true? Or do they basically do "ah, it looks like 12", done, when in
> fact, it may very well be just 10")
>
> Which weights more? Cellulose or fiberglass? If I go with R38 (doesn't
> add that much to the cost), Is the weight of all that insulation cause
> any problem with the ceiling in the long run?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Raymond
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