Bummed out about insulation cost

Lesley · 2005-05-19T12:08:27+00:00

Hi,I'm back again, this time it's insulation. My house is 103 years oldand never has been insulated. So I got a quote from a local companyand I didn't realize it would be so expensive. If they blow it in fromthe outside, it costs $2300 but if they do it from the inside it's$1750. But then I have to pay a drywaller to fix the gazillion holesthey will make because they only do the initial rough patch after theyblow in the insulation. We're talking about a LOT of holes.Then there's the attic. I got a quote for the recycled deniminsulation up there and it was over $1,000. So I asked what it wouldcost to use the normal stuff (fiberglass pink stuff) and he said theydon't use that because it's way less efficient than the recycled denimand plus it's not healthy to have around.So I'm not just writing to whine. I have two questions.1. Is it true that fiberglass is much less efficient than the recycleddenim?2. Someone told me that blown-in cellulose will settle in a few yearsand then I'll be right back where I started. The contractor said he'dgive me a 15 year warranty, but he doesn't have one in writing--it'sjust his good word since "it's a family business".Could I have some comments on cellulose insulation in general andwhether this is something I really need to just DO and stop whiningabout?Thanks again in advance. This group is really helpful for me.Best,Lesley

May 19, 2005 24 Replies

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Lesley 21 years ago

I WAS talking about "properly fitted fiberglass". I got a quote of $1,050 to put recycled denim insulation in the attic rafters. When I asked him to quote me for the same job using fiberglass, he said it was so much less efficient that they (their company) didn't use it. . .

So you're saying that Denim *is* more efficient, but "not much more"? So would you recommend getting a quote from another company--one that does use fiberglass?

Lesley

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Duane Bozarth 21 years ago

I don't know anything about denim as an insulating material--never seen it used so have no data. I'd think it would be possible to Google for detailed specs on it and any other materials and get real data, not just speculation.

I would also get at one other quote just on general principles....

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Chris Lewis 21 years ago

According to Lesley :

It might be that denim is slightly more efficient than fiberglass. Cellulose is. But both denim and loose blown cellulose have more drastic drawbacks (packdown or soakdown or both).

If you're that concerned, look for someone who can do Rockwool and get a quote.

Rockwool is only a trifle more expensive than fiberglass, is a bit more efficient than fiberglass, and is better than fiberglass in most of the other issues with fiberglass.

Better sound control too.

See

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for one brand.

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BocesLib 21 years ago

They even have it now encased in plastic. Its not too bad at all.

Tom

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Doug Boulter 21 years ago

"Lesley" wrote on 20 May 2005:

Denim batts, or blown-in denim?

Denim batts and fiberglass batts have about equal R-values. Cotton blown-in and cellulose blown-in have about equal R-values.

The real work in insulating an attic is putting in the styrofoam, cardboard, or plastic eave vent chutes. If you have no soffit vents (or no soffits), the installer may still have to block off the point where the rafters intersect the top plate to keep blown- in insulation from escaping there. Usually they'll stuff under the chutes or at that point with fiberglass batting. It's not a pleasant job. You lay on your back or stomach on a board in a very tight space.

Once that work is done, laying batts or blowing in the insulation is a piece of cake.

I'm presuming that you already have insulation in the attic. Have you considered just rolling out unfaced fiberglass batts on top of it?

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