RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
I've heard blown-in insulation can build up around a stray nail or something sticking out instead of going where it's intended.
Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
There are two places to insulate: (1) behind the closet under the roof, which I can do the bottom myself easily, and (2) the area up above the upstairs, below the peak of the roof, which I can't.
From reading your post, it just occurred to me you could also put spray foam on the underside of the roof, in both places, which I could *not* do. Wonder how useful that would be? Now I'm going to have to think some more (Oh, no...
) Video of a possible danger of spray foam---mostly fumes. I wonder if these people aren't over-reacting a little bit.
I had cellulose blown into the walls several years ago. Not perfect, but it made a big difference. Catching on things in walls can happen. They say it can also settle down from the top. I guess you can't get things perfect with an old house.
Gosh, we have not looked in our attic for years. When the house was built, they did the blown-in cellulose. I bet it has "settled" now and not all "fluffly" when it was first done! YIKES! We have an odd attic access..a small square opening in the master closet. No wonder we never look up there!
I wouldn't worry about it, maggiemae. I don't think you would even notice any settling, if it's just blown onto the floor space of an attic. I can't see any settling in mine after at least 35 years. It's when it's blown into a tall wall, just a little bit of compression, spread out over a 7 or 8 foot tall wall, can leave a gap at the top.
I would leave that stuff in my house if it weren't so dirty. I was told there had been rats and mice in the attic, when I bought the house, and I've covered places that squirrels had gone in around the eaves. I think cellulose is better than fiberglass, because it's so difficult to seal all the spaces with fiberglass.
Pappy, if you like that song, you might like this version better.
Earl Scruggs and Friends - Foggy Mountain Breakdown
(Note: Steve Martin, 2nd banjo solo)
Cap'nSacto
Member
- Location
- Sacramento, Calif
Some settling is actually good because it increases the density of the insulation, making it even more effective. Blown-in cellulose is already denser than fiberglass batt, so it insulates better, yet it builds up less heat, so is less likely to cause spontaneous combustion. I was told (when I worked as an installer) that blown-in cellulose also slows down a housefire..they have a term for it; "2-hour firewall". Fiberglass, on the other hand, once it catches burns hot and fast.
Thanks, Cap'n. I've heard that hollow walls (no insulation), like in old houses, can act like chimneys in a fire. My house has some cross pieces between the studs, at diagonals, done mostly for bracing. Those made it difficult to spray in the cellulose.
Just ruled out any spray foam undercoating on the roof. I've been reading many reasons not to do it, and they make sense, like retaining moisture, trouble when you replace the roof, doesn't give and take with expansion and contraction, etc, etc,...
I like ruling things out. Makes life simpler. LOL! Back to the original plan. Will worry about the top attic later.
maggiemae, I knew what you meant.
The past has interfered with the present again---just testing my memory, not longing to return.
Last night while cleaning out the closet prior to demolition, I finally found the only picture we had of my grandmother's house in WV. You can even see the chicken house up the hill to the right, bigger than I thought it (the chicken house) was. So steep to get up there you almost had to use all fours in places.
(Wonder why someone couldn't bother to hold the camera straight.)
This sent me to the *other* attic, under the porch roof, looking for more pictures, where I ran across some work from an elective art class at KSU. It was more work than any other class I took. You had to come up with ideas and turn in at least one thing every week, and lug a big 2'x3' folder and fishing tackle box full of stuff everywhere. It was fun though.
We even had a nude model---one woman for two sessions, and a different one for another session. The girl who sat next to me in class was from Taiwan and very shy. She couldn't even look the first day. I think she must have gotten an F that week. By the 3rd session it had become old hat and rather boring.
That class was held on the 2nd floor of an old creaky wooden building next to the old ROTC building that got burned down just prior to the Kent State shootings. All buildings are gone now. It took time just verifying all that, then wasted time looking at numerous pictures on the internet of *that* event.
By the time I got back to the closet clean out it was past bed time. I'll never get that closet done at this rate. {sigh} [Does this sound like procrastination?]
Last night while cleaning out the closet prior to demolition, I finally found the only picture we had of my grandmother's house in WV. You can even see the chicken house up the hill to the right, bigger than I thought it (the chicken house) was. So steep to get up there you almost had to use all fours in places.
(Wonder why someone couldn't bother to hold the camera straight.
)
This sent me to the *other* attic, under the porch roof, looking for more pictures, where I ran across some work from an elective art class at KSU. It was more work than any other class I took. You had to come up with ideas and turn in at least one thing every week, and lug a big 2'x3' folder and fishing tackle box full of stuff everywhere. It was fun though.
We even had a nude model---one woman for two sessions, and a different one for another session. The girl who sat next to me in class was from Taiwan and very shy. She couldn't even look the first day. I think she must have gotten an F that week. By the 3rd session it had become old hat and rather boring.
That class was held on the 2nd floor of an old creaky wooden building next to the old ROTC building that got burned down just prior to the Kent State shootings. All buildings are gone now. It took time just verifying all that, then wasted time looking at numerous pictures on the internet of *that* event.
By the time I got back to the closet clean out it was past bed time. I'll never get that closet done at this rate. {sigh} [Does this sound like procrastination?]
I thought dog, too, but I doubt it. No one there ever owned a dog, maybe a neighbor? Could be an outdoor chair or table. That was right near the hand water pump. There was a hand pump on the kitchen sink, but it never worked. Guess the well went dry. Yes it does look like a person to the left. Who knows, maybe a ghost? No electricity until much later. Everything in the house was natural gas, including the lights.
That bush on the left side of the porch is a sweet shrub. In the evenings, in a valley like that, the air would be humid and stagnant, and you could smell that thing all over the yard in the spring. Cuttings of it were taken to my aunt's house 20 miles away, then sent to me here, then out to the farm, then back to WV with a cousin. The genes of that thing have traveled almost full circle. Wish you could send aromas over the 'net.
Repost (old image was on Photobucket)
I should post *one* picture from that art class. It reminds me of my closet with shoes piled up everywhere on the floor. I don't "suck" at drawing, just always preferred music.
My father's work shoes, mother's house slippers, and my penny loafers (pencil, 1967). A bit faded after 50 years, but who isn't.layful:
https://i.imgur.com/JU5wQc9.gif
That bush on the left side of the porch is a sweet shrub. In the evenings, in a valley like that, the air would be humid and stagnant, and you could smell that thing all over the yard in the spring. Cuttings of it were taken to my aunt's house 20 miles away, then sent to me here, then out to the farm, then back to WV with a cousin. The genes of that thing have traveled almost full circle. Wish you could send aromas over the 'net.
Repost (old image was on Photobucket)
I should post *one* picture from that art class. It reminds me of my closet with shoes piled up everywhere on the floor. I don't "suck" at drawing, just always preferred music.
My father's work shoes, mother's house slippers, and my penny loafers (pencil, 1967). A bit faded after 50 years, but who isn't.
layful:https://i.imgur.com/JU5wQc9.gif
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
Nancy, that drawing is very good, I'm impressed!
As to the thing at the left side of the house; I thought it was a pillow in the corner of a porch swing.
As to the thing at the left side of the house; I thought it was a pillow in the corner of a porch swing.
RR, there are two other images I was looking at... To the left of the bush, looks like a man in a straw hat carrying a baby. The other looks like some tiny person sitting on the ground in front of the bush, just their head and shoulders with a sweater showing.
Kind of spooky isn't it? Doo, doo, doo, doo ......wop!
layful:
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
RR, there are two other images I was looking at... To the left of the bush, looks like a man in a straw hat carrying a baby. The other looks like some tiny person sitting on the ground in front of the bush, just their head and shoulders with a sweater showing.
Kind of spooky isn't it? Doo, doo, doo, doo ......wop!
Oh yes! I see the man in the hat, but try as I might I can't make out the other figure sitting in front of the bush.... just light and shadow.
Removed the contents of the closet last night. Today I started tearing out walls, and I'm past the point of no return now. This is another job that will likely be harder than I thought.
Whoever built this closet just used pieces of scrap lumber and sheet rock and made do. It should be done correctly, but it will be really hard to take out what's left completely and start from scratch. Maybe I can compromise and modify *some* of what's already there.
Next step would be to remove that old cellulose insulation. I can do that in one day if I get busy. If there were some way to completely seal the dust on top of it, so it didn't float around, I would just leave it, and put layers of fiberglass on top. I'm pretty sure now that's where most of the dust in that bedroom has been coming from.
One of the most important things is to insulate the walls and back side of the closet. There was none before! Under the roof like that, it got really hot in there in the summer and cold in the winter.
Need to do a little more thinking.
Whoever built this closet just used pieces of scrap lumber and sheet rock and made do. It should be done correctly, but it will be really hard to take out what's left completely and start from scratch. Maybe I can compromise and modify *some* of what's already there.
Next step would be to remove that old cellulose insulation. I can do that in one day if I get busy. If there were some way to completely seal the dust on top of it, so it didn't float around, I would just leave it, and put layers of fiberglass on top.
I'm pretty sure now that's where most of the dust in that bedroom has been coming from. One of the most important things is to insulate the walls and back side of the closet. There was none before! Under the roof like that, it got really hot in there in the summer and cold in the winter.
Need to do a little more thinking.
Cap'nSacto
Member
- Location
- Sacramento, Calif
"If there were some way to completely seal the dust on top of it, so it didn't float around, I would just leave it..."
I can't see where it is or how much of it there is - how many square feet - but seems like their would be some fairly simple way to seal it off. Perhaps fiberglass cloth?
I can't see where it is or how much of it there is - how many square feet - but seems like their would be some fairly simple way to seal it off. Perhaps fiberglass cloth?
Thanks for the idea Cap'n. I started reading about fiberglass cloth after reading your post, and stumbled on this Q&A:
Question - Blown-in cellulose insulation in my attic floor is dusty, and I'd like to use part of the attic for storage. What can I put over the cellulose to keep the dust down - poly or Tyvek?
Answer - Use Tyvek, or Typar, similar materials that allow water vapor to go through it but not air, making it ideal as a dust cover. Staple it loosely on the joists to keep it from billowing.
It makes sense to me, but I'll keep searching for a confirmation. Tyvek (brand name for house wrap) is not as expensive as fiberglass. I need about 150 sq ft, not counting overlaps. The Lowes store here makes their own brand @ $30 for a 3'x100' roll.
ps: I like the title of your journal, Things I have no reason to post elsewhere. That should be my title. I'm all over the place. Ha!
Cap'nSacto
Member
- Location
- Sacramento, Calif
lol! Yes, you are all over the place. But it's your diary, right? Take it wherever you want, on a whim if you like.
That sounds like a good answer, and far-out that Lowes can give you a good price! It's not a huge area, but price-per-foot adds up quick, as you no doubt know.
That sounds like a good answer, and far-out that Lowes can give you a good price! It's not a huge area, but price-per-foot adds up quick, as you no doubt know.
Maggiemae, here's where the closet demolition stands as of Sunday night. The "room" is 5'x8', ceiling is 6' high at the lowest point. Entrance is to the right. (Picture taken from outside in the attic space.)
Yes, there will be rods to hang clothes, and shelves. It had an old home made three-shelf unit, built separately, and squeezed in against the left wall in the picture. I had to take that apart to get it out.
As of now the plan is to try and keep the 3 corner posts and the two pictured in front. They are fastened well. That horizontal 2x4 at waist height is not, so it will come out, and I suppose I'll frame in between the corners.
Will see when I get the sheet rock down from the ceiling. Should be able to do that today (Monday). Not looking forward to it. There is old cellulose and dirt piled on top. As usual, 90% of the work was clearing all the stuff out of there, after tearing it down.
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Cap'nSacto
Member
- Location
- Sacramento, Calif
Yeah, that 2X4 won't do a whole hell of a lot. Looking good, Nancy. The light/illumination on the right; is that the closet's interior light?
Yes, Cap'n, that's from an old-fashioned ceramic fixture that was added much later, on the wall with surface wiring. The only way I could get a picture without glare was to hide the light behind that post.
That's another thing I want to do---recess that wiring into the wall cavity, or better yet, move it to a ceiling fixture.
I seriously doubt this project will be finished before April, but that doesn't bother me. I'm anxious to see if I can learn how to do the stuff I've never tried before---sheet rock and traditional framing. It won't show in there if I mess it up too much.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
A space like that really needs a secret door or moving bookcase.
Bea, that's not a bad idea. It has a little Alice in Wonderland type door now.
Your secret door reminded me of a picture of bookcases I found when I was doing the shelves in the basement.
Which further reminds me, I'm thinking of putting the shelves recessed behind the wall in that closet. That would give an extra foot of floor space in there.
The project just keeps growing and growing, like a fungus. I've got to stop thinking. :eewwk: