Insulation

Marios

I am living in an old building (100 + years old)that was converted to condo's in 1995. Last winter I found out that there is hardly any insulation in the walls.
I am about to rip out the kitchen and behind one wall , which is an inside wall. that wall was sloop cold and found out there is a draft coming from the upstairs .
I found there is a dead space measuring at least 18" deep.
my question is , do I use blow in insulation or just put batts between the metal studs ?

Thanx,

Mario

Gary in WA

Where are the metal studs? Is the cavity left from a removed chimney? Fiberglass in bags to block any "stack effect" at the attic level, air seal the attic first and foremost; http://www.wag-aic.org/1999/WAG_99_baker.pdf

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/PDF/Free/021105092.pdf

Gary

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Marios

Hi Gary ,

Thanx for the reply.
The condo building has for levels/floors. Each condo has two floors, so there is one unit on top of mine. I can feel drafts sometimes coming from above inside the walls and by the electrical outlets. I guess no firestops at all in the walls.
The cavity is not from on old chimney but it is a thick inside brick wall where the developer built metal stud walls around. Last winter was sooo cold here I felt / thought the water lines were going to freeze ( by the way no insulation around the pipes either). So thats why I thought just to use blow in insulation to fill the 18 " + cavity.
Let me know what you think and thanks again for getting back to me.

Mario

Gary in WA

I'd contact your local Building Department or Fire Marshall. Between units is critical, ask them for guidance.

Gary

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Windows on Wash

Only reason they probably didn't freeze was probably the amount of heat loss from the living space that was keeping them warm.

Make sure that you try to keep the pipes to the warm side of the insulation and checking codes on fire stopping is critical.

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