How to replace it.
Old attic walls made of paper.
The most common blown in material used but it can rot and grow moldy if exposed to moisture.
Cellulose insulation an eco friendly alternative to conventional insulation primarily comprises newspaper shreds.
If building a knee wall for storage like karl did with this project make sure to insulate that area as well.
Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic.
Please note simply placing your old clothes around the attic constitutes a fire hazard not to mention a possible nesting haven for rodents.
Made from a reflective material such as aluminum foil over a substrate like kraft paper or foam board.
Now that we know the old attic insulation types on the market the question is whether there is a newer more modern alternative available.
Truevalue stores offer cocoon insulation at less than 10 per 19 pound bag.
Don t mash or compress the insulation into the space.
Fibers from recycled post consumer paper that are treated for insect and fire resistance.
Always read manufacturers instructions and safety guidelines before beginning your project.
One of the more sophisticated products lately is spray foam insulation.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation.
Home depot sells greenfiber in individual bales by the pallet and offers an all borate product.
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.
It needs a certain amount of loft to work properly.
Recycled clothing insulation has been properly treated for fire safety.
It is priced at about 12 for a 19 pound bag.
Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.
You can install it in your home usually in the attic to save energy and insulate the house.
Not measured in r values.
Manufactured by greenfiber it also contains up to.
Staple insulation between the wall studs and ceiling joists image a.
Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials.
Use r 30 insulation for the ceiling and r 13 for the walls.
Designed to keep your home cool.
It likely has the same 100 year old kraft paper behind it that provides virtually no water proofing support.
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.
As we mentioned at the beginning insulation has come a long way in the past several years.
Fibers from rock or recycled slag from blast furnaces.
Most often used for attics since most heat enters through the attic.