Question about insulation

[Sienna86]

When I recently had a new roof installed, the owner advised adding to the layer of fiberglass insulation in the attic. He suggested a type of insulation that could be blown in. Any ideas where I look for a company who can do this?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. Home Depot

rents those machines and sells the product . You can even rent a pick up truck from H.D. to haul the machine if you don't have a truck or know somebody that does. Sometimes I see people rent u haul trailers for that. U haul sells and installs trailer hitches too. Actually at a fair price. So that means you can do it yerself if you want to. Anybody that can walk the rafters can do it ,it,s easy really.you will want to make sure your electrical junction box's are covered,each having a cover.

Or you can do a local search for insulation installers, anybody that does insulation can do blow in.I assume you have a access panel to the roof trussing from inside the house ?

I did a church with the rental unit we got at home depot about six months ago, it worked out well.

Good luck.

[Sienna86]

2. Thanks

for the great advice. I do a lot on my own, but not sure if I want to take on that project. I can easily imagine falling between the rafters and having a foot come though the drywall. I will probably search for a local insulation installer. Appreciate the advice!

[Kolesar]

3. Buy cellulose insulation, not the bagged fiberglas loose insulation

Fiberglas allows air to move through it, ruining the performance of the insulation. There are always drafts in a house from outside breezes, convection, and from pressure differentials due to the furnace blower. (If you have a forced air furnace).

I agree with Wash-State: pay a contractor. There are a lot of details to installing baffles and knowing how to blow the stuff in densely.

[ima_sinnic]

4. I got the exact same advice from home inspector when I bought a house recently

Lowes sells cellulose insulation for $10.76/bag. For my 1200-ft2 house I will need about 32 bags to add 6-8", for about $330. Lowes throws in the blower for free for 24 hours. It is recommended that 2 people do it: one up in the attic blowing, the other emptying bags into the blower. It's apparently not that big a deal.

See http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&N=4294961544&Ne=4294967294&Ntk=i_products&Ntt=cellulose+insulation

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. That's true

most any handyman for hire can do it.

[ima_sinnic]

6. by the way, you can claim a tax credit for adding insulation

30% of the cost of making your home more energy efficient can be deducted as a credit, up to $1500 (i.e., $4500 total expense). see http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206875,00.html?portlet=7

[Sienna86]

7. Thanks for all the info/advice

It hadn't occured to me that increasing the insulation might qualify for a tax credit.

[mopinko]

8. our gas company is also giving rebates.

we are going to do this in a couple of weeks. we are figuring we can make it to r-30+ for less than $200.
on top of new windows, we are hoping for some much smaller gas bills this winter.