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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-10-28, Page 42• 40 Almost all insulation is lightweight and easy lo mile. VOW' tools are needed. Out care, should be taken when you're working with mineral fibre -type insulation. Small insulation Particles can cause skin irritation and it- i:hing. 4$00d idea to Wear gloves- And a shower at the end of the day will wash away particles left on the skin. When you're ready to start in the attic area, Pinata pair of running shoes, and watch your step. Walk only on the ceiling joists. Most ceiling surfaces under the joists are plastered; too much weight Will puncture the ceiling. Boards laid across the joists will give you a sturdy workingplatform • To cut batt or rigid in- sulation use a sharp penknife or blade. Lay the insulation on a flat surface for cutting. Any accidental cuts in the vapor barrier should be taped before the insulation is finally applied. A heavy-duty staple gun is essential for applying batt insulation. You should be able to- rent one from your in- sulation supplier or hardware store. Measure your walls and floor and attic area carefully. Once you've decided on the R value you need, talk over your requirements with the dealer. He'll help you figure out the right number of bags or bundles of insulation. It's bulky, so have it delivered. Store it. in. a dry place until you're ready to start to work. Since warm air naturally rises and tries to escape, the ceiling is a major source of heat loss. Fortunately it's the easiest place to add in- sulation. It deserves first priority for re -insulation (or "retrofitting") an existing home or insulating a new one. Good ceiling insulation will return fuel savings of bet- ween 10 and 30 per cent depending on house type and existing insulation. First, find out the condition and depth of insulation already in your attic. Some older homes have none; most have a small amount — a 2 - inch or 3 -inch mineral fibre batt — and this may have settled or become water damaged. You should have a ceiling R value of 20 or more, which means at least 6 inches of insulation. If you have less than that -- say a 3 -inch batt — you should upgrade it in one of two ways: Add a further 3 inches of batt or blanket insulation. You don't need a vapor barrier because there should be one already on the ceiling. Buy insulation that gottles withoutthe barrier. Whefl you lay the insulation, be sure that all areas are covered excePt, of course,fortheegve veiits andother:lel-011 S. You can also use bags ol loose lilt Pour it between the ceiling joists* then usa garden rake or a pusher (made from pieces of 2 x 2" and 2x 6") to smooth and settle the insulation into all the corners. The fill should at least Over the top of the ceiling joists —higher if more thermal resistance is requite& Check the R value per inch printed on the bags. Again be sure not to block the vents. If there's no insulation and no vapor barrier in your attic, install one before insulating. In this case plastic sheeting looped ,over the joists and fitted snugly down to the ceiling board would be best. The ceiling in a new home or extension should be in- sulated to at least R20. This means at least 6 inches of batt, blanket or loose -fill insulation, and an effective vapor barrier on the lower (warm) side of the insulation. The extra cost of a good in- sulation job will more than pay for itself over the life of the house. Your walls are the second most important source of heat loss. Aim fax a total wall resistance of R14 or more. This means an It factor for the insulation of at least 12, about as much as can be achieved with batts or blankets and 4 -inch wall studs. Unfortunately, re - insulating walls is more difficult and more expensive than 'ceilings. You do have a number of options, however, depending upon the type of wall construction, existing insulation and money to spend. If your plans permit ex- tensive renovation, remove the wallboard or plaster and re -insulate the wall as you would a new one (see in- structions below). Then replace the wallboard. While you're at it, you might want to attach 1 x 2" or 2 x 2" strips to the stud edges to allow for more insulation in the wall cavity. To avoid the trouble of removing the inside surface of a wall, or when this can't be done as with masonry walls, you can apply new insulation (bans, blankets or rigid panels) to the inside surface. Apply straps to the 1. wall to attach ,the insulation and covering wallboard" (Remember the styrofoam should be 4veftd by plaster or mown board) You can Use 1 x 2" furring strips for thin StYrd at least 2 x 2" strips fax batis, blankets or thicker fottM, Once your strips are in place, apply the insulation according to the instructions below fax frame walls. If you have hollow, --or almost, hollow, wood -frame walls you can have a professional insulation contractor blow in loose -fill insulation. He can do this from the outside if small sections of the exterior can be removed, as with clapboard. If the exterior is brick, aluminum siding or stucco,. he'll have to drill holes in the interior walls and 'repair them when he's finished. Care must be taken that the entire stud space is filled — that no projections or cross - braces hinder the filling process. The cavity in older wood - frame houses and in some masonry walls can be filled with a foamed -in-place in- sulation, such as urea- formaldehyde, ThIS must be done by a professional. Check the prices in your area and pick the contractor carefully. When you're insulating new wails; the idea is to Pig in as Much insulation as the stud space will accept. For extra insulating Value, consider S- ind* studs or a layer of StYroNant sheeting on the outside (under the exterior surface). Follow the in- structions below. When you start to work on a wall that has been framed, push blankets into the stud spaces so they touch the sheathing or siding. Work from the top down and Place the staples about 4 inches apart, pulling down the flanges so that they fit snugly against the top and bottom plates. If you're using friction -fit batts or blankets without an attached vapor barrier, first wedge them into place, then Cover the inside face of the wall with a suitable vapor barrier such as polyethylene, stapled to top and bottom plates. Unroll the sheet across the entire wall area, including window and door openings. You can cut these out later, Be sure to fit insulation behind pipes* ducts and electrical boxes. Pack space with, loose inSulatiOn Or cut a piece to the proper size and fit it into place. Stuff pieces of, insulation between rough framing and door and window heads, Jambs and sills. Staple vapor - barrier paper or polyethylene to cover these small areas. If you have non -standard - width studs or joist spaces, cut the insulation and vapor barrier an inch or so wider than the space to be filled. Staple uncut flanges as usual. Pull the vapor barrier on the cut side to the other stud, fitting the insulation behind k, and- staple through the vapor barrier to the stud. Unfaced blankets are . cut slightly oversize and wedged into place. After plugging the heat leaks in ceilings and walls, basement walls are the next area to tackle. A good deal of heat is lost from basement walls, -especially the part above ground. For block or concrete walls that are less than 50 per cent (continued on page l Photograph courtesy Craven Foundahon Collection TERMPLAN Thinking of a major purchase? Why not drop in to your nearest Royal Bank branch and enquire about our Termplan Personal Loans. There's rio red tape — a good credit rating and steady income are all you need. Your loan is also life insured at no extra cost. You don't have to be one of our customers to apply! Our Personal Loans Officer will pleased to help work out a plan that is best for you. Sample amounts ansat Et litsitio 38 Shift tillitootto t$N. Cot emit* It*io Poor* Cot lbw* Was Pips*t reit NM* et tam Arrow Cost• illeadtr di.. Papaw svia. 14.44 17112 MSS 12331 .4131* 4714 Isla 411113 33.509 2$152 313.44 301Ik 218 IS . ... ......„ _ TAOS itelt 1,33240. 4151 UV) 11:1 /file ISM 132.)2 1,113110 183.54 AM 37340 Arttlit Sitts 3011.43 mall' IMO* SAW. 115.6 •SZSCO 50344 47171; 02752 Wit 1141411 23454 215540 17251/ Interest calculated at 13,6% OYAL BANK bank 40 Ontario. - •