Can I Refluff the Blown In Insulation?
#1
02-05-11, 02:35 PM
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Can I Refluff the Blown In Insulation?
Where I have been tromping around the attic, even though I am careful to push the blown-in insulation aside it still gets packed down in the path. Over time, I guess it settles on its own as well. Since I am going to be digging around up there anyway to seal air leaks, can I just fluff it all back up or does it not fill back in right by doing that?
#2
02-05-11, 06:11 PM
Fluffed up insulation will be better than packed down, but you will never achieve by hand what you get when blown in. Blown in will fit tighter and leave fewer paths for air to circulate. Since most attics will have someone walking through them at some time, I like to flip some 2x6 or 2x8 on edge and run two parallel to each other down the middle of the attic. At 24" apart you can cover them with some 5/8" osb and create a raised walkway from end to end. It will seem like a lot of extra work at the time, but you will smile every time you are up there.
Bud
Bud
#3
02-10-11, 08:36 PM
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Yes, I've considered adding a walkway before. Perhaps now is the time to do it.
Now, by extension from my original question, can previously wet insulation be "reconstituted" to useful form, perhaps running it through a blower along with new? After the recent blizzard we discovered snow mounds in the attic from which we have gathered several buckets of insulation along with the snow. It may be a bit anal, but I hate to waste it if it's just a matter of getting it dry first. I'll be adding alot more anyway.
Now, by extension from my original question, can previously wet insulation be "reconstituted" to useful form, perhaps running it through a blower along with new? After the recent blizzard we discovered snow mounds in the attic from which we have gathered several buckets of insulation along with the snow. It may be a bit anal, but I hate to waste it if it's just a matter of getting it dry first. I'll be adding alot more anyway.
#4
02-11-11, 04:49 AM
I wouldn't bother. The value/money saved would be minimal and the performance less that new. Plus, even though this stuff is treated, you never know if something has started to grow.
Preventing very light snow from blowing in is almost impossible. I like those 6' diameter backyard pools for kids. Properly placed in the attic, they have a chance of catching most of the white stuff and then it just melts and evaporates.
Bud
Preventing very light snow from blowing in is almost impossible. I like those 6' diameter backyard pools for kids. Properly placed in the attic, they have a chance of catching most of the white stuff and then it just melts and evaporates.
Bud
#5
02-11-11, 05:11 AM
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another trick that I have used before while working in homes, is take a garden rake into the attic with you. Then with the rake, you can "fluff" the insulation that you walked all over, and use the teeth of the rake to reach down into the areas where it is packed down and loosen it up, if you are that concerned about it. Some people are very picky about this, and I have had to do it in homes of a couple clients.
