Old Attic insulation

12-11-2019 11:49am #1

The attic insulation in our newly acquired old house is FLAT as a pancake.
I'd say it's there 40 years,maybe more.
Prob 30/40mm and compacted by time.
While the house isnt cold in general I plan on refreshing it.
The question is ,
should I bother removing it ?
There is about 200sqm of attic.

And any advice as what to replace it with (diy)?

Thanks

Calahonda52 · 12-11-2019 1:19pm

No need to remove it.
.
My preference is loose cellulose,
having

sorted the ventilation at the eaves, if any, [ if none then need to ventilate with roof tile vents]
sleeved power cables,
insulated water pipes
covered and insulated the water tanks
made hatch airtight and insulated

https://www.nsai.ie/about/news/publication-of-sr-542014-code-of-practice

Sleepy · 12-11-2019 1:49pm

Is loose cellulose attic insulation something that can be done by a DIY'er or does it require professional installation? Does it have to be blown in by a machine or could it be manually packed between rafters?

Calahonda52 · 12-11-2019 2:14pm

Sleepy wrote: »

Is loose cellulose attic insulation something that can be done by a DIY'er or does it require professional installation? Does it have to be blown in by a machine or could it be manually packed between rafters?

.
I have done it manually.
.
Yes there are machines available but the manual works fine
It comes compressed and can be broken up in a garden trug, either manually or with a fitting on the end of a cordless drill.
.
I had the following kit for cleaning a stove flue.
.
https://www.tamarbrushes.co.uk/product/spinning-accessories/
.
https://www.tamarbrushes.co.uk/product/nylon-flexi-rod/
just used one rod
.
https://www.tamarbrushes.co.uk/product/reamer/
the light version
.
The setup was one guy breaking it up and bringing it up in trugs.
I had 8 trugs from Lidl on the go at a time
.
can be done as a DIY job, need fine day for breaking it down outside, the dust is not toxic.
.
HTH

loyatemu · 12-11-2019 2:43pm

looks a messy job, and would seem to rule out ever using the attic for storage. Is it that much better than rolls of rockwool?

Calahonda52 · 12-11-2019 3:13pm

loyatemu wrote: »

looks a messy job, and would seem to rule out ever using the attic for storage. Is it that much better than rolls of rockwool?

.
Every attic I did was then sheeted out so as perfect storage, it also improved the insulation as it let the cols air from blowing over the top of the insulation .
It made the attic much more usable, so easy on with the OK BOOMER keyboard warrior response

.
It is miles better than rolling. IMO

12-11-2019 4:48pm

Thanks for the advice.
I will look into the loose cellulose stuff.
When you say ventilation at the eves, all I need is some sort of a gap from the attic to the soffit and I should be good.

Calahonda52 · 12-11-2019 6:33pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I will look into the loose cellulose stuff.
When you say ventilation at the eves, all I need is some sort of a gap from the attic to the soffit and I should be good.

.
Absolutely not some sort of gap.
Google ventilation baffles iff you have ventilated soffits.
Google roof tile vents if not.
The required area, IIRC of the required vents is = to a continuous strip 10 mm wide along the full length of the building at the eaves
See Part F of the TGDs

listermint · 12-11-2019 8:25pm

Calahonda52 wrote: »

.
Absolutely not some sort of gap.
Google ventilation baffles iff you have ventilated soffits.
Google roof tile vents if not.
The required area, IIRC of the required vents is = to a continuous strip 1mm wide along the full length of the building
See Part F of the TGDs

1 mm? Seems .... Tiny

13-11-2019 9:10am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

.
Absolutely not some sort of gap.

Calahonda52 wrote: »

.

The required area, IIRC of the required vents is = to a continuous strip 10 mm wide along the full length of the building at the eaves
See Part F of the TGDs

So some sort of gap

Calahonda52 · 13-11-2019 10:22am

BrownFinger wrote: »

So some sort of gap

.
Thats what you think of professional contributions?
.
Another one for the ignore list.

13-11-2019 10:25am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

.
Thats what you think of professional contributions?

You should mind your manners.
Just because you are a "professional" doesn't mean you can be a rude prick.
even on the internet.

listermint · 13-11-2019 11:29am

BrownFinger wrote: »

You should mind your manners.
Just because you are a "professional" doesn't mean you can be a rude prick.
even on the internet.

Em.. he was giving you minimum spec and also that it was to be continuous. Some sort of gap is all he said was wrong.

Perhaps don't ask for advice in future because it appears you don't like being given specifications.

But carry on put a few gaps in some places. Knock yourself out...

Old Attic insulation

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