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Cellulose Insulation Installation

Insulation contractor Rick Davenport shows Bob how they install wet-spray cellulose insulation into open walls. The material is typical cellulose insulation, simply recycled newspaper. It's the installation system that is unique. Small jets of water moisten the insulation as it leaves the nozzle of the blower hose. The damp cellulose sticks to the studs and exterior sheathing, completely filling the wall cavity. The moisture will dry before the interior drywall is installed, so it doesn't harm the wall or affect the insulation value of the material. A large rotating brush, called a stud scrubber, removes excess material and cleans the inside face of the stud. In the ceiling, a blown-in-insulation is used. Plastic netting has been stretched along the bottom surface of the ceiling joists to support the material. The end of the blower hose is inserted through the netting to fill the cavity. Instead of adding water as the cellulose leaves the hose, an adhesive binder is mixed with the cellulose before it leaves the hose. The binder helps achieve a controlled density that provides a uniform insulation level of R-3.7 per inch, which comes to R-37 in this 10-inch cavity.

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Cellulose Insulation Installation

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" This is. That's correct recycled paper recycled paper and of course it's a very responsible way to insulate your house Internet using a pretty precious natural resources. What's different about this -- What we've done retreated to a complete fire safe. And then we have we're going to -- some moisture through it. And sprayed into the -- having them although the installation process is different that's right that's right. Let's look at that the end of that -- that we could be just a minute. And he obviously the installation will be coming here what are all these other -- nozzles."

" What we've got his kids that there were going to introduce the moisture to a drive try to come through the sooner we have somewhere about a foot out here. And I wanted to throw it into the wall and other causes display it now."

" Does that prevented from. Settling down in the walk out -- a lot of people are concerned that this kind of installation might not. Stay uniformly spread."

" Well what we're doing because what -- and it harder. In the cavity it has a tendency to want to do well other than to settle. -- your tracking didn't try to correct that's correct."

" Doesn't that affect the."

" know -- stylist has your paper has an inherent. Ability to control the."

" My library cellular follow that right it is -- in Baghdad. Now courts. We were talking about. -- conservative. Tapping moisture getting into your installation which of course -- fiberglass the real problem in here we're adding moisture on purpose of their work."

" Well adding moisture to make it stick it in the application they have -- but moisture really had an effect cellulose or paper like -- that's what -- fiberglass. Because it's constant picking up moisture laden moisture down I could tell when you played out overnight -- In the morning kind of feel -- did not do they would it would dry out."

" Hard to understand how you can leave all this wet stuff in the -- go put the plaster board up and would you be trapping the moisture there are nervously Matamoros her foot in here will be virtually dried. Within a day or day and a magazine and you really sticks as well but didn't ignite a lump it."

" No woman who now father we're going to take besides glamour. And senate this thing air handlers and a backdrop to the -- A stud -- and."

" Pretty specialized tool. -- just got a lot of bristles on here. Watch him do that."

" Bob that's a little different application."

" Bob here we have a little bit different problem we're dealing with gravity so while we're gonna use the bibs system kind of this system we use an insulated mesh. That allows me to the air to breathe as he's installing it. We're gonna start where they have a binder and there sports next on life and also that we used to spray the end of the -- actually in the homes here."

" So you've got in this thread post you -- adding compressed air and what's the binder some."

" And he's -- finder that goes into it. And what really get at is that again they controlled density so that we don't have any settling."

" Now this ceiling is -- just below our patio off the master bedroom and in the hot California -- We're gonna have possibly a high temperatures here. What kind of an art director -- yet."

" Get -- an."

" OK at 3737."

" Well one big advantage of course is that it's a natural product. And god what have there been --"

" Well it's an effective alternative hi I'm glad Bob and the main thing essentially recycled environmentally friendly products and what about sound attenuation. Okay thank those years ago was designed to be a sound deadening product."

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Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is made of almost entirely of recycled materials, mainly newspaper. It can cover harder to reach areas such as the small gaps around pipes and electrical wires. It's treated with boric acid, which makes it flame resistant and prevents mold from growing.

Blown-in Dense-Packed Cellulose Insulation for the Roof

The roof of the new addition is being insulated to retain all the heat generated from the radiant heating system. Paul Johnson of Alpine Insulators reviews the installation process. The first step involves installing netting that is breathable so air can escape once the cellulose is installed. The netting is fire-retardant and stapled in place to hold dense-packed cellulose in place. Bales of cellulose are emptied into a machine located in an on-site truck that shreds the cellulose before pumping it at high pressure into the cavities of the roof. In this case, the insulation cost about $2.25 a square foot. Cellulose is a great thermal insulator and sound attenuator. In the interior partion wall where the bathroom will be located, cellulose will be installed directly against the drywall. Bill Hulstrunk of National Fiber reviews some of the properties of cellulose insulation, which has been around since about 1920 and used extensively since 1970 in both new and existing construction. Borates are added to make the cellulose fire-retardant, and mold and insect resistant. Because of the added borates, a propane torch can be put to the cellulose without igniting it. In a field test, a penny can be put on top of the cellulose and melted without the heat penetrating the material. These borates are naturally occurring and the cellulose itself is made of 83 percent recycled content, making this type of insulation an environmentally conscious, "green" choice. The cellulose in this house is being used in an unvented application. Because the material is packed very tightly, it reduces the chance that warm, moist air will penetrate the cavity and create mold growth.

Blowing In Cellulose Insulation

Bob meets up with Joe Sheridan from Energy Guard to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation application that is taking place in the barn. This is not a do-it-yourself process. A mesh material is first attached behind the wall cavities to hold the cellulose in place until the drywall is applied. The cellulose is essentially ground up newspaper treated during the manufacturing process with borates to resist fungus growth. It's mixed with a litle moisture and blown into the stud cavities. Product that falls onto the ground is vacuumed up and sucked back to the truck where it is remixed and blown back out. While one installer blows the insulation in, a second man follows with a stud scrubber, leveling the cellulose with the studs. The goal is to create a tight fit eliminating air movement through the wall. One can achieve an R-factor of R-13 in a 2 x 4 wall and an R-21 in a 2 x 6 wall, R-factors that will be maintained even in extreme temperatures. Within 24 hours after application the moisture content drops below 25% allowing sheetrocking to proceed. Another benefit of the product is sound attenuation. Upstairs in the attic, Joe's crew is doing a dry application. The cellulose is blown in under pressure. The hose is fed down to the bottom of the cavity and pulled back as it fills up. A proper vent in the ceiling is not necessary because the insulation is so dense that air doesn't travel through the insulation and miosture therefore never gets out to the roof sheathing. The price of the Cocoon product is comparable to fiberglass insulation.

Insulation Basics

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. How much insulation does your home need and where? It depends on your climate and the energy costs in your area. The basic principle is that you want to keep heat energy from doing what it does best: dissipating to colder areas. The best way is to trap a layer of air next to the heat source. In new framing, sprayed-on polyurethane foam, fiberglass or cellulose do a good job of providing this layer before the drywall goes up. If you re retrofitting your insulation, you can still spray in cellulose through holes cut from the interior or the exterior. To find out what insulation will work best in your home, you ll want to know the recommended insulation r-values in your area. R-value is the measure of a material s resistance to heat flow. The higher the value, the more effective it is. To see the recommended insulation r-values and cost estimates in your ZIP code, visit the Department of Energy s web site. Even a small draft can make your insulation less effective. Seal any gaps around electrical outlets, ducts, windows and doors with foam sealants, caulking or weatherstripping. The most important area to insulate is your attic. Make sure you ve got at least the attic floor insulated with blown-in or batt insulation to your area s recommended r-value, and consider insulating the roof and attic walls as well. This can provide a fully insulated buffer zone to keep heat where you want it and keep the lid on your energy costs. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008