I am planning an attic sealing and insulating project and need to make sure I'm not missing anything;
The attic is very simple - some wiring, 2 bathroom fans that I have replaced already with proper 6" insulated ducts and a vent stack. Electric only, no gas, so none of those worries. No other ducting.
Roof is very basic shape. Joists are 24"OC 2x4s (this really rubs me the wrong way). I assume the ceiling is 5/8 but need to check.
Currently there is on average 12" blown in fiberglass, down to less than 4 in some places - specifically under a current catwalk nailed to the joists running the length of the attic (about 33 feet). The access hole is dead center with the catwalks running in both directions to the gables from there.
My plan is to use a rake and leaf vac to move the insulation from the one side of the attic out of the way. Then replace carboard baffles with accuvent and seal up the attic floor. Then repeat on the other side, blowing the insulation to the side I sealed up.
After I'm done with the "other side" I will leave all the insulation on one side and blow in cellulose on the empty side. I hate the idea of blowing cellulose over the fb. I have spent all the time I can take working in the attic inbetween fb. If I blow cellulose over fb, then I'm just mixing the 2. By keeping it to one side I can keep it isolated and potentially in future suck it out for replacement. Currently it is in decent shape.
I did some testing with a leaf vac and it works great but the mulcher "fluff" it up a bit. Should I be worried about the insulation-ability afterwards?
I will have to raise the catwalk and access hole to about 18". Not sure yet how I will tackle this problem. I need to go see what reserve lumber I have and then take a trip to the lumber yard and see what they have.
The attic will not be used as storage. The catwalk will just be so I can get closer the place I need to be when doing anything up there.
I'm also a teeny bit worried about ceiling sagging under the cellulose. I plan to be @ R60 which is about 18" for cellulose and 24" for fb.
3 Recessed light are IC & air tight, but I will build boxes in any case to seal them up for good. Gables will be blocked off with plywood.
What do I need to worry about and what else should I do?
The attic is very simple - some wiring, 2 bathroom fans that I have replaced already with proper 6" insulated ducts and a vent stack. Electric only, no gas, so none of those worries. No other ducting.
Roof is very basic shape. Joists are 24"OC 2x4s (this really rubs me the wrong way). I assume the ceiling is 5/8 but need to check.
Currently there is on average 12" blown in fiberglass, down to less than 4 in some places - specifically under a current catwalk nailed to the joists running the length of the attic (about 33 feet). The access hole is dead center with the catwalks running in both directions to the gables from there.
My plan is to use a rake and leaf vac to move the insulation from the one side of the attic out of the way. Then replace carboard baffles with accuvent and seal up the attic floor. Then repeat on the other side, blowing the insulation to the side I sealed up.
After I'm done with the "other side" I will leave all the insulation on one side and blow in cellulose on the empty side. I hate the idea of blowing cellulose over the fb. I have spent all the time I can take working in the attic inbetween fb. If I blow cellulose over fb, then I'm just mixing the 2. By keeping it to one side I can keep it isolated and potentially in future suck it out for replacement. Currently it is in decent shape.
I did some testing with a leaf vac and it works great but the mulcher "fluff" it up a bit. Should I be worried about the insulation-ability afterwards?
I will have to raise the catwalk and access hole to about 18". Not sure yet how I will tackle this problem. I need to go see what reserve lumber I have and then take a trip to the lumber yard and see what they have.
The attic will not be used as storage. The catwalk will just be so I can get closer the place I need to be when doing anything up there.
I'm also a teeny bit worried about ceiling sagging under the cellulose. I plan to be @ R60 which is about 18" for cellulose and 24" for fb.
3 Recessed light are IC & air tight, but I will build boxes in any case to seal them up for good. Gables will be blocked off with plywood.
What do I need to worry about and what else should I do?