what type of cavity wall insulation? if there are any options.?

Question

are any better environmentally

THANKS TO ALL! You are brilliant. Can you tell me what blown mineral fibre is - I suspect not very Env. friendly?
Cheers.

I'm still searching for more info, on blown mineral fibre vs cellulose. Also a UK supplier and fitter. Thanks.

Answer 1

I just had cellulose blown into my house as well. It's the best option for environmentally conscious folks. Cellulose can have the same R-value as foam and fiberglass, it is made from non-toxic recycled materials and it's less expensive!

If you do go ahead with the cellulose, make sure it is treated with Borate (boric acid/borax). Borate is non-toxic (about as toxic as table salt) and is a fire retardant as well as an pest repellent. If you have any moisture in your house, it will also prevent mold and mildew from growing. Neither the fiberglass or foam will repel pests or inhibit mold growth.

You'll want to ask the insulation company how big of holes they drill. The smaller the better (1 inch preferably). Also, you'll want a company that blows the insulation in slowly so the cellulose has time to settle.

When it is blown in from the inside, it will make quite a mess but the holes are easier to fill and hide. However, if you have it done from the outside, you'll have to consider the stucco patches and the cost of covering them. You'll want an insulation company that employs a bonafide plasterer and not some yahoo with Spackle.

All and all, you'll notice a huge difference in the sound proofing and temperature. My house just feels solid. No more drafts.

I hope it all works out for you. Good luck with your home improvements!



Mineral Fiber - The only naturally occuring mineral fiber is Asbestos. All others are man-made. Mineral fiber has been linked with "sick building syndrome". I haven't seen any benefits to using mineral fiber over other insulations and I haven't had a contractor promote or suggest it. It's certainly not popular, perhaps for numerous reasons.

Answer 2

Cellulose is as mentioned-- it does settle over many years. I had cellulose blown in for exterior walls- the company drilled holes, blew in the cellulose and then put a plug to close the hole-- very effective-- then some years later I had siding put on-- again effective. If you have a brick house-- may need to drill inside then cap-- be sure you know how it will be done. And make sure someone checks the work-- my power company was doing the free estimates and provided a list of preferred companies-- then came back to check the work. Really did a good sound proofing, too.
Good luck

Answer 3

Cellulose is a very environmentally-friendly insulator. It can be blown in to wall cavities, it's very fire-retardant, and best of all, it's made of recycled newspaper. It's R-value is roughly the same, or possibly better than fiberglass.

Answer 4

There are also some new types of insulation now called radiant heat insulation. Some are very easy installation for diy.

Answer 5

You have a ton of options that are environmentally friendly!
Nice to see someone else is concerned about the environment

http://www.dickson-insulation.co.uk/cavitywallinsulation.htm
http://www.dyplastproducts.com/products_dpshield.htm
http://www.dyplastproducts.com/polyisocyanurate_wall/pdf/dpShield_data_sheet.pdf
http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/governmentll.php?CLASSIFICATION=59&PARENT=54
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=environmentally+friendly+cavity+wall+insulation&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&fl=1&x=wrt&meta=vl%3Dlang_en

Answer 6

if Adobe type house-hay bales