TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI | New house renovation thread
Family Room wall w/ paneling removed | 
100% cotton insulation? |
The first thing on my list is to install CAT6 in all the rooms. I decided to start with the family room because:
1. Dark wood paneling on all the walls needs to go.
2. Ceiling is covered in ugly green acoustic tile. Tested it for asbestos and it was clear, so it's coming down.
3. By gaining access to the studs and joists in the family room, I can use this room to direct the CAT6 cables to all other rooms of the house.
So, today my dad and I started by removing some of the green ceiling tile, and pulled all the paneling off a wall. Behind the paneling we found cotton insulation (1 inch thick!). I can't say I've ever heard of this type of insulation before, and neither has my dad. At this point, I plan to pull it all out and replace it with fiberglass batts.
Still to do (in no particular order):
*Finish CAT6 install.
*Patch cracks in drywall caused by the foundation settling.
*Remove/drywall over laundry chute to the garage.
*Paint all rooms.
*Remove the wallpaper in every rooms that has it.
*Replace all 2-prong AC outlets with 3-prong.*
*Replace all 2-prong outlets in bathrooms with 3-prong GFI outlets.
*Decide what to do with the water heater (already have a thread for that here: »Flush an old hot water heater?)
*Fix the pocket doors. This house has 3, and each one has something wrong with it.
*Install carpet in the family room and replace the carpet in the living room and dining room.
I'll post pics along with a status update as I move forward.
* Before half this forum jumps down my throat: The original wiring does in fact have live ground wires going to every electrical box. I just need to install self grounded outlets and I'm good to go. |
|
 DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC
 ·Suddenlink
| " Insulation made from cotton has a general R-value of 3-4 per inch compared to fiberglass insulation batts with R-values ranging from 5 to 7 per inch. "
A review by a consumer is at:
»www2.buildinggreen.com/blogs/pro···sulation
--
I don't care what DHS says, never bring scissors to a gunfight. |
|
 JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Kelowna, BC
kudos:2 | Yea, he has a lot of make-up remover for the wife it seems. 
Batts, and vapour barrier are the way to go. It's cheap compared to heating loss over a year.
--
"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots." ~ Albert Einstein |
|
TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI | said by Juggernaut:Yea, he has a lot of make-up remover for the wife it seems.
Batts, and vapour barrier are the way to go. It's cheap compared to heating loss over a year.
Think I should use unfaced batts and a separate plastic vapor barrier, or go with faced batts?
In terms of R rating, I imagine I should use R-13, since these are 2x4s? |
|
JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Kelowna, BC
kudos:2 | Yes. Batts, and separate barrier is best for a seal. 2x4's should be R-15 value, but can vary from 11-15. |
|
 TomekPremium
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY | reply to TheSMJ
You should also look into Roxul insulation, we are putting that in our house and so far I love that stuff. Not that more expensive and you can get it at home depot
--
Semper Fi |
|
 DraimanLet me see those devil horns in the sky
join:2012-06-01
Kill Devil Hills, NC
 ·Verizon FiOS
| said by Tomek:You should also look into Roxul insulation, we are putting that in our house and so far I love that stuff. Not that more expensive and you can get it at home depot
For batts it's not much more but over rolls it's super expensive. Fiberglass rolls would be the cheapest way to go. Depending on how much you need it might even been worth doing 1" of closed cell foam then fiberglass.
--
IF YOU FIND ANY MISTAKES IN MY WORK...Please consider that they are there for a purpose. I try to please everyone and there is always someone looking for mistakes! |
|
TheSMJ
join:2009-08-19
Farmington, MI | I ended up getting faced fiberglass batts. That's what HD had in stock, and I had a 10% off coupon + a bunch of gift cards with them, so... |
|
cjskiThe Wheel Weaves As The Wheel WillPremium
join:2001-01-04
Sun City, CA | reply to TheSMJ
said by TheSMJ:I'll post pics along with a status update as I move forward.
Don't forget the 'before' pics too. |
|
