insulation

Insulation
Adding insulation was required for any place that we exposed the exterior wall studs. We knew we were adding batt insulation to the kitchen, level one bath, stairwell, master bedroom and bath. We worked with a company called All Weather Home, who specializes in insulation. On the 2x4 stud walls we used R-15, on the back sides of the closets and the stairwell hallway, we had greater depth and we able to used R-21. On the level two ceiling we used R-38 expect on the vaulted areas we used a ridged board that gave us an R-20. For all the batt insulation we used a product called EcoBatt. Ecobatt is, “Based on rapidly renewable bio-based materials rather than non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals commonly used in other insulation products, ECOSE Technology reduces binder embodied energy by up to 70%, and does not contain phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics or artificial colors used to make traditional fiberglass insulation. EcoBatt Insulation combines sand, one of the world’s most abundant and renewable resources, post-consumer recycled bottle glass and ECOSE binder. Insulation saves 12 times more energy the first year in use than it takes to manufacture it—and it continues to save that much each year from then on.” We are so happy to tighten this old and cold house up. In addition, to the exposed areas were we could easily install batt insulation. We also pulled selected boards of the exterior siding to blow in fill the living and dinning room, guest bed room as well as the study. We did this because we are maintaining the existing lath and plaster in these rooms. The blow in insulation is finely shredded paper that is packed by its own weight. We also blew the floors above the living room and above the closets to provide a continues thermal envelop that acts as a jacket between the inside and the exterior. Check out the pictures below.