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.
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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.
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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.
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1732 S.E. H aig S treet
Portlan d. O regon 97202
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off SE ,7th St
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