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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1982)
Page 2 Section II Portland Observer, June 3, 1982 Insulation easy do-it-yourself project H o m e o w n e rs w ill fin d th a t in stalling hom e in s u la tio n is an easy, ■do-it-yourself project, that even the in experienced handy-m an can accom plish in a w e e k e n d , says C h a rle s H a r tm a n n , m a rk e t m an ag er o f O w ens-C orning Fiberglas C o rp o ra tio n ’ s In s u la tio n O p e ra tin g D iv i sion. T h e o n ly to o ls re q u ire d are a sharp kn ife, a straight-edge, a ruler, and a pair o f w ork gloves and safety glasses. Installation is simply a m a t ter o f measuring the area to be insu lated, cutting the m aterial to fit, and laying it in place between the hom e’s structural fram ing members. “ W it h a lit t le p ra c tic e m ost h o m eo w n ers w ill be surprised at how q u ic k ly an d eas ily the e n tire procedure can be c o m p le te d ,” M r . H a rtm a n n says. W h a t ’ s m o re , he adds, “ today's blanket or batt type in su latio n products, a v a ila b le w ith o r w ith o u t v a p o r b a rrie rs , ta k e m ost o f the guessw ork o u t o f a c h ie v in g th e p ro p e r R -v a lu e o r thickness, thus assuring the hom e- owner o f achieving exactly the th er m al p e rfo rm a n c e fo r w h ich he is paying.” INSULATING UNPLOORBD/ UNFINISHED ATTICS STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 2 STEP 3 installed on either 24-inch or 16-inch centers in v irtu a lly all conventional U .S . “ fra m e ” construction configu ra tio n s .) T h e r e fo re , th e ty p ic a l home insulation project w ill require a m aterial that is designed either 24 to 23-inches or 16 to 15-inches in width. H a v in g d eterm in ed th e req u ired square footage and w id th , the final step is to determ ine whether a vapor barrier w ill be needed and the pro p er insulation thickness or R-value. I f the area to be insulated already has some insulation, which might be the case with an attic, un-faced insu la tio n — in su latio n w ith o u t a vapor barrier should be used. I f there is no existing insulation, a m aterial faced w ith e ith e r a k ra ft p aper o r a lu m i num fo il vapor barrier should be in s ta lle d . In e ith e r case, th e hom e- owner w ill find that building m ater ial outlets carry an am ple supply o f both faced and unfaced m aterial. As fo r determ ining the proper R- value, M r . H artm an n advises home- owners to check w ith their local u til ity or F ib erg las b u ild in g m aterials re ta ile r. “ B oth o f these source are prepared to o ffe r valuable advice in selecting the rig h t R -v a lu e fo r the rig h t clim ate and area o f the hom e to be insulated.” Second step: Installin g the inaulation A fte r y o u ’ ve decided w h a t areas o f your home to insulate, taken the INSULATING BASEMENT WALLS STEP 4 Sf»p ’ Lay tamporary flooring and hang woridlght. Laava insulation In packagaa until yo u rs raady to uaa N. Slap 2. Insulation should aitand far enough to cover top plats. but should not covar aava vents; If nacaaaary. install baffles at tha inside of tha saves Step 3. Begin laying insulation blan kets at outer edge of attic, working towards tha canter Vapor barrier (If used) should face down towards tha warm-ln-wlnter area of tha house Step 4. Fill the apace between tha chimney and wood framing with unlaced Fiberglas insulation Keep insulation 3-tnches from recessed light fixtures. Note: If tha R value In your climate calls for a second layer and the cavity has bean completely filled, place the additional layer of unfaced insulation directly on top of the existing material, either parallel to tha foists or at right angles necessary m easurem ents and p u r chased th e p ro p e r ty p e an d th ic k ness o f m aterial, yo u ’ re ready to get dow n to w o rk ! F o llo w in g is a step- by-step, d o-it-you rself guide to insu la tin g six c ritic a l areas o f the home against w inter heat loss and summer heat g a in : U n flo o r e d /u n fin is h e d a ttic s ; fin is h in g a ttic s to liv in g areas; walls between heated and un heated areas; basement walls; floors above u nh eated c ra w l spaces; m a sonry walls in heated craw l spaces. In sulatin g u n flo o re d /u n fin is h e d attic s In s u la tin g an u n fin is h e d or u n fio o re d a ttic is perhaps the most p o p u la r d o -it-y o u r s e lf in s u la tio n proect. Begin by laying a piece o f tem po rary flo o rin g ; a p lank o r section o f V i-in c h p ly w o o d sh ou ld s u ffic e . Leave the in su latio n in the bags or ro lls u n til y o u ’ re re a d y to use it , since in s u la tio n is p ackag ed in a com pressed state and w ill expand once the package is opened. S tart laying the Fiberglas insula tio n at the o u te r edges o f the a ttic and w o rk to w ards the cen ter. T h is allows m ore headroom fo r whatever c u ttin g an d fittin g pro cedu res are re q u ire d . Y o u m ig h t fin d th a t a lo n g -h a n d le d “ p u s h ” b ro o m w ill prove h elp fu l in extending the insu lation to the edges o f the attic. L a y in the long runs firs t and place the left-o vers aside fo r fillin g up the sm aller spaces la te r. W h ere you encounter w iring, push the insu lation under. Be sure to butt each in dividual section o f insulation tightly up against the adjacent section for a complete b arrier. Be c a re fu l w hen you extend the insulation to the edges o f the attic so th at you d o n ’ t block the flo w o f air fro m eave vents— i f your hom e has them . Y o u m ight even find it useful to install b a ffle boards at the inside o f the eaves to keep fro m blocking these vents. T h e space between the ch im n ey and w ood fra m in g should be fille d w ith an un-faced m aterial. I f you’re in s ta llin g in s u la tio n w ith a v a p o r b a rrie r, sim ply tear o f f the facing. A ls o , be sure to keep in s u la tio n a m inim u m o f 3 inches fro m recessed INSULATION EXPERIENCE ■ C o m p ta te A fte W ot ■ F o a r r insulated » o o ti 8 Cfood S p a c e in y jn ’ ion jio rrr W n d o w i 8 Doors ■ A e a tb e > s *(C p rg 8 ■ Solar M e a t r g Systems • O nly A p proved • Caulking ■ M eat P rrrp s M aterials Used R e p a c e r -a r ii AAndows ■ v a p o r Barners ■ Ventsation Systems ■ M u m rtt/ 8 ■ K ey i censed 8 Bor id ea • t r a n c in g Assistance ■ Tar B e n et* A d w ce ■ D e la te d Hom e insulation ’ e m p e ro n jr e Controls War o r g Service 288-7461 A NEILKELIY D f SIGNEPS PfM O DfLEPS - - 8 04 NORTH ai wria 268-34611 SMCI Mi fir» »MOCfliPfWOS HTCOMNSKi STEP 1 STEP 4 Step t, construct knee walla along aides of attic and collar beams at desired calling height Step 2. Install blanket Insula tion between rafters and collar beams. Tha vapor barrier should face in towards «mrm-ln-winter area of tha house Step X use separate pieces of Insulation for rafters and collar beams since a continuous piece may result In gaps Step 4; install insulation in end and knee walls Stuff leftover pieces In the small spacas around window frames light fixtures. I f you are reinsulating over exist ing in s u latio n ,an d the jo is t cavity is already fille d w ith the o rig in al m a terial, the new layer can be layed at right angles to the joists fo r a partic ularly snug therm al barrier. In s u la tin g fin is h e d a ttic s I f you w ant to convert your a ttic to liv in g space, the new w a ll and ceiling area must be insulated. A fte r y o u ’ ve c o n s tru c te d the knee walls along the sides o f the a t tic and c o lla r beams a t the desired ceiling height, yo u 're ready to insu la te . In s ta ll the b atts betw een the c o lla r beam s and ra fte rs w ith the vap or b a rrie r facing in tow ards the w a rm -in -w in te r side. Use a separate piece o f in s u la tio n fo r these areas, since try in g to fit a c o n tin u o u s len g th o f in s u la tio n w h ere beams and ra fte rs m eet c o u ld resu lt in h a r d -to -f ill gaps. F in a lly , ag ain being sure the vapor barrier faces io to w a rd s th e liv in g space, in stall*' Fiberglas insulation in end and knee * walls. S tu ff left-o ver pieces around window fram ing. In s u la tin g w a lls b e tw e e n h e a te d a n d u n h e a te d sp e c e s . In s u la tin g w a lls in an existing home is usually a task fo r a profes sional contractor, since the stud cav ities are not accessible. But in those cases w h ere an e x te rio r w a ll has been left u n fin is h e d , as is o ften the case with walls between a house and an attached unheated garage, insu la tio n can be in s ta lle d in th e stud c a vity— w ith the vap o r b a rrie r fa c ing towards the w arm -in-w inter side o f w all. In s u la tin g b a s e m e n t w a lls A surprising am ount o f energy is. lost th ro u g h b asem ent w a lls . T o insulate these walls, begin by install ing a fram ew ork o f furring strips or Snapper Vacuum-cleans yo u r lawn as you m ow f NEIL KELLY C O . HAS O V E R 3 0 YEARS O F ■ " . m ' i . j Step f wedge insulation between well studs The vapor bar rier should face the werm-ln-winter side of the wall Note: do not leave faced Insulations exposed Slap 2, uae ecrape to fill In cracks and small areas around door and window frames. STEP 3 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 Step I. Install framework of furring strips or studa to masonry walls, either 16-mch or 24-inch on center Slap 2, Install insu lation between furring strips or studs Staple flange on Insu lation facing to framing members. Step 3. cut pieces of Insu lation to fit In band foist between top plate and sub floor. Slap 4 cover installed in su la tio n with d e s ire d wall fin ish Do not leave faced insulation exposed First step: M ea su re T he very first step in the installa tion process is to measure how much m a te ria l w ill be n eeded , says M r . H a r tm a n n . T h is s im p ly involves m easuring the len g th o f and w id th o f the area to be insulated and m u l tiplying these tw o dimensions to de term ine the square footage am ount o f m aterial required. A fte r the square footage has been calculated, the next step is to deter mine how wide the insulation should be. Since in s u la tio n is u s u a lly in stalled between s tru c tu ra l fra m in g members such as joists or studs, the hom e o w n e r w ill d is c o v e r th a t the space betw een these m em bers a l m ost m easures a c o n s ta n t (2 2 Vi inches o r 1416 inches)— depending on local b u ild in g codes and age o f the d w e llin g . (S tuds an d jo ists are INSULATING WALLS BETWEEN NBATBO AND UNNBATED SPACES INSULATING FINISHED ATTICS studs to m asonry su rface. N a il the b o tto m p la te d ire c tly to the flo o r and the to p p la te to th e jo is ts above; the fu rrin g or studs then can be nailed to this fra m e w o rk , either 244 or 16 inches on-center. Install the insulation between the studs m uch the w ay y o u ’ d insulate an above-grade w all. I f yo u ’re using a faced m a te ria l, staple the flange on the facing to the strips o r studs, with the facing towards the warm in w in te r side o f the w a ll. I f y o u 're using an unfaced m a te ria l, install a separate vapor b arrier such as poly- eth yu len e film o r fo il backed g yp sum board. Be sure to cut a separate piece o f in s u la tio n to fit the band jo is t be O n w alls th a t run p a ra lle l to joists, it is not necessary to cut sep a ra te header s trip s , sim p ly use longer pieces o f in s u la tio n , nailed w ith fu rr in g strips d ire c tly to the band joist. A fte r the in s u la tio n has been in stalled, lay a polyethylene film un der the in s u la tio n and the e n tire flo o r area. Use old boards or rocks to help hold the insulation in place on the ground. Hardwood Flooring! Everyday LOW Prices! Unfinished Oak Flooring % X 2V<: ’ 1.05 COMMON SELECT ‘ 1.15 tw een th e to p p la te and the sub floor. Insulating floors above unheated c ra w l spaces F lo o rs ab ove unh eateed craw l spaces are frequently a source o f un c o m fo rta b le d r a fts — and energy waste. T o insulate these areas, slip in s u la tio n b atts betw een th e flo o r joists w ith the vapor b a rrie r facing up towards the warm in winter side; the in s u la tio n w ill re m a in in place te m p o ra r ily . Begin at one end o f w a ll and install w ire mesh (chicken w ire works nicely) perpendicular to the flo o r joists to perm anently hold th e in s u la tio n in p la c e . In lieu o f w ire m esh, use “ tig e r te e th ” or crisscrossed w ire strung betw een nails to secure the insulation. Be sure the in s u latio n fits snugly up against the band jo is t and o ver laps the bottom plate. » SPECIALS ★ • Swedish Finish *12.60 9* (S2BB0 • Dura-Seal Stains $24.96 9»' WE RENT FLOOR SANDING EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE ALL YOUR WOOD FLOORING OPEN 9-5 MON-SAT I Reg 13 60) Spacials good thru 6 /3 0 /8 2 231 >0973 In sulatin g m asonry w a lls in heated c raw l spacas Begin by m easu ring and c u ttin g sm all pieces o f in s u la tio n to fit snugly against the band joist. Using lo n g e r fu rrin g s trip s , n a il v e rtic a l lengths o f insulation batts to the sill; m ake sure the lengths o f insulation a re long enough to cascade d ow n the w a ll and extend tw o feet along the ground into the craw l space. HARDWOOD FLOORS, INC. 1732 S.E. H aig S treet Portlan d. O regon 97202 2 blka off Powell off SE ,7th St FLOORS OF DISTINCTION SINCE 1947 COUPON CEDAR W EST_ CARPETS__ Let us update your kitchen and bathrooms with new vinyl and countertops. • • • • Bags grass & leaves, wet or dry Extra-large 2 Vi Bu. catcher 2 cutting widths: I 9 ’ & 2 1 * H and Push or S elf Propelled Models • V ersatility with th atch er/ mulcher attachments S A N D B U R G 'S HARDW ARE FREE ESTIMATES PDC financing available for qualified home owners 2932 N, Lombard Portland, Oregon 97217 289-1202 Showroom & General Offices/Warehouse 4747 N.E. Union - Portland, OR 97211 288-6719
