Insulation is any material used to slow the transmission of heat or reduce the transmission of sound. Typical materials include fiberglass, foam, blown cellulose, and reflective foil. This should not be confused with weather stripping.
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I added insulation to my attic rafters, but should I have left room for airflow?
I added insulation to my attic rafters and plugged the space between the outdoors and my attic with insulation. It lowered my heating bill by $150/month, but I've seen some information that I may ...
8
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1answer
493 views
Mold remediation in crawlspace
Just bought a 25 year old home that has improperly installed insulation in the crawlspace. The insulation is fiberglass rolls with a paper backing, and is installed with the paper facing down, toward ...
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2answers
4k views
Should I install a moisture barrier behind drywall in house with T1-11 siding?
My home interior walls are thick redwood paneling in the bay area mountains.
i'm about to start removing the wood in my second bedroom and want to install a moisture barrier on the 1 outside wall of ...
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1answer
2k views
What are the pros and cons of a vented vs unvented crawl space?
I find it very confusing to read and hear conflicting advice on crawl space: vent vs air seal, different ways to do insulation, vapor barriers vs not, etc.
Mine currently has some moisture and has ...
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3answers
856 views
How do I determine if I need attic insulation to keep cool in summer?
How can I determine if I need more attic insulation to keep cool in summer?
I live in the desert of southern California so it can get pretty hot in the summer (110+ is not uncommon). I would like ...
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6answers
10k views
How can I seal the large gap around my fireplace in a way that is safe and prevents air inflows?
I've got a spot by a fireplace that lets cold air in. Unfortunately its right where the metal of the fireplace meets the wooden framing/molding of the fireplace on the inside. This seems like ...
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1answer
277 views
Beginner insulation advice
Background
I have a manufactured home from the 70's with metal siding, wood studded walls and fiberglass insulation on the inside. I had a clogged gutter, which caused water to run behind the siding, ...
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2answers
562 views
What happens when a vapor barrier is too close to the cold side?
The vapour barrier must be installed on the warm side of the wall, that is on this interior side of the house. It is permissible to have it sandwiched in the middle between two layers of insulation, ...
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2answers
596 views
Corrosion on copper pipes due to insulation (with foam)
My incoming water pipe is copper and it is a brand new installation with no leaks. But due to the hot humid weather (even in the basement) it sweats due to condensation. Should I insulate it?
The ...
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2answers
1k views
How do I insulate around a gas fireplace without tearing it apart?
My home has a gas fireplace that we do not use very often. It is in a "bump out" on the back of the house. In the winter, cold air flows through the vents under the fireplace and if you feel the ...
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2answers
1k views
Is a vapor barrier necessary beneath blown in cellulose insulation in a garage ceiling in a cold climate?
Is it necessary to put any kind of vapor barrier beneath blown in cellulose insulation in an attached garage? The ceiling is sheetrocked, but that's it. It's a cold, dry climate (north half of ...
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3answers
190 views
Will plaster on basement walls and ceiling provide insulation?
My basement's insides are completely unfinished. It has bare brick walls and bare concrete beams-vaults as the ceiling. I though of coating the walls and the ceiling with 2 inch thick plaster with the ...
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3answers
5k views
How bad is it to have wet insulation?
With this recent blizzard we recently saw our ceiling lighting fixture leaking water (slow, about 1 drop every 5 minutes)
I got up in the attic and saw that some snow had been apparently blown into ...
8
votes
2answers
4k views
What's the best way to keep my garage from freezing?
I live in Colorado. My 1950s house has a one-car attached garage that was built in the 2000s. The walls that are not shared with the house are not insulated: the studs and sheathing are visible from ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
My neighbor keeps complaining about my music. How to soundproof my apartment?
I live in an old apartment building and the walls are thin. This is a problem because I love to listen to music -- sometimes at odd hours of the night. Yes, I can be an asshole in this way. But my ...
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3answers
1k views
How do I add insulation to my attic?
I'm pretty sure my attic needs some additional insulation (it looks pretty sparse and my house is freezing!).
Here are some images of my attic: http://imgur.com/a/pdsXF
Two questions:
There is ...
5
votes
1answer
694 views
How do I know my current R-Value for my attic?
I am a first-time homeowner. One thing that was noted on the house inspection was that we needed more insulation for our attic. In my area, the recommended R-Value is 38 according to the ornl.gov ...
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2answers
1k views
Determining if there is insulation behind a wall
Learning today that some of our walls are a whole 20 degrees colder than others (all facing east) I'm convinced we may not have proper insulation (it's a new house, but we've head numerous problems ...
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2answers
276 views
How do I insulate space in loft to create music studio
I have 3 DIY created rooms in my large live/work studio/artist loft. They are made with 2x4 and 2x6, framing with drywall walls and plywood ceiling.
The apt has 14' 7" ceilings so we just have ...
3
votes
2answers
184 views
Will this moisture problem persist after drywall is installed?
we remodeled a trailer home recently, removed the aluminum siding, put up osb in place of the siding, then used the Lowes brand of house wrap. we installed new vinyl siding over that without using any ...
3
votes
1answer
442 views
Should I cover a skylight well from the inside?
I made the mistake of having a Velux skylight installed in my bedroom. The installation was done by pros, both inside and out, and it has never leaked through 2 hurricanes. The installation was done ...
3
votes
2answers
334 views
Is it worth updating my insulation?
I have a 1969 Cape Cod 2,300 square feet, brick and vinyl sided home with cathedral ceilings that I want to update insulation in. I have the original R-7 fiberglass in the walls and R-12 in the ...
3
votes
1answer
222 views
Extra insulation for panes of aging windows
The original windows on my 30-year-old house are insulated pretty well around the frames, but the panes themselves transmit a lot of cold air, especially when things drop down into the single digits, ...
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4answers
164 views
How can I measure the r-value of a wall?
What is a reproducible test to measure the r-value of an exterior wall? Or even a specific spot on a specific wall? It needn't produce an absolutely certain result, but a good estimate with known ...
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2answers
1k views
How should I use heat tape?
I've been considering using heat tape this year, to protect my pipes from freezing. Are there any suggestions for the proper use or installation of heat tape, or pros/cons?
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1answer
622 views
IKEA recessed lights: extreme clearance requirements?
I'm finishing the ceiling on my basement. I'm planning to insulate the ceiling with the Roxul Safe'n'Sound Fire & Soundproofing Insulation. It is 3 inches thick so it only occupies the upper 3 ...
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votes
2answers
952 views
How do I determine what supplies to buy to insulate an attic?
I would like to add more insulation to an attic. What measurements and points do I need to look at to decide what materials to buy?
How do I determine if I need airflow baffles?
How do I determine ...
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votes
1answer
2k views
How do I prevent window drafts?
I live in Florida. I have noticed that in the Winter it seems that the cold air leaks through the windows and into the rooms. This, of course, raises my energy bill for heating (yes we have to turn on ...
