House insulation

[jjwv_mu_rivals]

Ok, quick responses:

1. Got a quote for spray-foam insulation for my house. It was a good quote, but about $3000 more than regular fiberglass.

2. A contractor turned me on to another possible solution: after the walls go up and the OSB and house wrap is up, an insulation board can go over the exterior walls, taped and sealed, then siding, then batt insulation on the interior walls. He said that would be almost as good as open cell foam.

What's your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[dave]

Ok, quick responses:

1. Got a quote for spray-foam insulation for my house. It was a good quote, but about $3000 more than regular fiberglass.

2. A contractor turned me on to another possible solution: after the walls go up and the OSB and house wrap is up, an insulation board can go over the exterior walls, taped and sealed, then siding, then batt insulation on the interior walls. He said that would be almost as good as open cell foam.

What's your thoughts? Thanks.

I have seen it used like that. It definitely increases the R value.

 

[Mntneer]

Ok, quick responses:

1. Got a quote for spray-foam insulation for my house. It was a good quote, but about $3000 more than regular fiberglass.

2. A contractor turned me on to another possible solution: after the walls go up and the OSB and house wrap is up, an insulation board can go over the exterior walls, taped and sealed, then siding, then batt insulation on the interior walls. He said that would be almost as good as open cell foam.

What's your thoughts? Thanks.

1) Spray-foam is nice, but... IMHO I don't always see the benefit from going with it. For me, it's more important that all joints, windows, doors, corners, etc. are thoroughly caulked and sealed than whether or not you go with spray-foam or good old fashion batt. An insulation guy told me, when I priced it out for my house... Unless I was going to spray foam the attic as well, I wasn't going to see the benefit on spray-foaming the walls.

2) The first time I've seen this in practice is on recent job of ours. 6" exterior wall framing, with batt insulation, yet we were still required to install rigid foam board. A) That **** is expensive. A 4x8x2 sheet... you're looking at $30 a sheet. Over.... kill. In my book. B) The extra inch or two you're adding to the thickness of your exterior walls, needs to be taken into account when it comes to openings. Not to mention accommodations that will have to be made if you're installing an exterior siding. I've been told that some localities are using it as a standard in code now, but, for residential at least, I hope it doesn't become a common practice.

IMHO, go with a good quality batt... good house wrap... caulk all joints... install good windows and doors... and put in a solid HVAC system with programmable thermostats. You'll be surprised at how well you can maintain a temp in those conditions. In my own house, in the summer time, I can keep the house very comfortable with very little constant air conditioning, and I don't regret not spray-foaming for a second. Not to mention, if I ever need to run wire on an exterior wall, I can.

 

[dave]

1) Spray-foam is nice, but... IMHO I don't always see the benefit from going with it. For me, it's more important that all joints, windows, doors, corners, etc. are thoroughly caulked and sealed than whether or not you go with spray-foam or good old fashion batt. An insulation guy told me, when I priced it out for my house... Unless I was going to spray foam the attic as well, I wasn't going to see the benefit on spray-foaming the walls.

2) The first time I've seen this in practice is on recent job of ours. 6" exterior wall framing, with batt insulation, yet we were still required to install rigid foam board. A) That **** is expensive. A 4x8x2 sheet... you're looking at $30 a sheet. Over.... kill. In my book. B) The extra inch or two you're adding to the thickness of your exterior walls, needs to be taken into account when it comes to openings. Not to mention accommodations that will have to be made if you're installing an exterior siding. I've been told that some localities are using it as a standard in code now, but, for residential at least, I hope it doesn't become a common practice.

IMHO, go with a good quality batt... good house wrap... caulk all joints... install good windows and doors... and put in a solid HVAC system with programmable thermostats. You'll be surprised at how well you can maintain a temp in those conditions. In my own house, in the summer time, I can keep the house very comfortable with very little constant air conditioning, and I don't regret not spray-foaming for a second. Not to mention, if I ever need to run wire on an exterior wall, I can.

Being able to run a wire on an exterior wall is an underrated benefit.

 

[boomerwv]

Both of these are spot on. I really doubt you need more than batt and a thorough job of sealing everything up.

I did my whole house in it and did it myself to save a small fortune. All you need is a little tolerance for itching and cold showers. House stayed plenty warm.

 

[Mntneer]

Both of these are spot on. I really doubt you need more than batt and a thorough job of sealing everything up.

I did my whole house in it and did it myself to save a small fortune. All you need is a little tolerance for itching and cold showers. House stayed plenty warm.

When I was in high school, and I'd go to work for my parents, I'd get the ****** jobs on a project. One summer I hung fiberglass insulation in a large metal building. 30' up, in a lift, dressed head to toe, 90 degree days.... miserable. It was flat out miserable.

 

[dave]

When I was in high school, and I'd go to work for my parents, I'd get the ****** jobs on a project. One summer I hung fiberglass insulation in a large metal building. 30' up, in a lift, dressed head to toe, 90 degree days.... miserable. It was flat out miserable.

Worst project I ever had was my first job out of college. They wanted us to work in the field to get a grasp of their business. The project was at Monsanto in Nitro and we had to acid etch a floor in a steel building to prepare it for a polymer coating that was chemical resistant. Head to toe body suit and respirator while acid was steaming off the floor. I cant remember the temp but it was summer and felt like 90. This is why I got into design and out of industrial construction.

 

[boomerwv]

When I was in high school, and I'd go to work for my parents, I'd get the ****** jobs on a project. One summer I hung fiberglass insulation in a large metal building. 30' up, in a lift, dressed head to toe, 90 degree days.... miserable. It was flat out miserable.

I did a lot of overhead work with it last year on this place. It really isn't as bad as I remembered it being. I think the newer fiberglass stuff is different than it used to be. I mean, I'm not in a hurry to do more of it, but I would.

 

[dave]

I did a lot of overhead work with it last year on this place. It really isn't as bad as I remembered it being. I think the newer fiberglass stuff is different than it used to be. I mean, I'm not in a hurry to do more of it, but I would.

You can do mine the next time I need it. I hate the stuff.

 

[WVUBRU]

I can't give advice on which to pick or whether to do it yourself, but I will concur with the thought of having the house very well insulated, sealed and caulked up, having good storm windows and a top notch hvac system. My current house is quite large and over twice the sq footage as our first house. My utility bills in the current house is 50% less than the smaller house. The house is so airtight, I actually have to crack windows almost all the time to get so air in the house.