Hello,
I have just about 2 inches of red blown in insultaion in my attic. I would like to replace it with cellulose. How can I get the old insulation out?
That's what's in my attic right now.
Attachment 7187
I also noticed that the studs above my garage are double in height than the rest of the house. Can I add some studs to gain the same height ro fill it with insulation and put some boards over it to make a kind of walk way?
On the right site the studs are higher.
Probably not necessary to remove anything that's there now. You might want to make sure (by checking with your cellulose manufacturer), but I think you could blow cellulose right on top of the blown fiberglas you have in place now. I did it about 30 years ago, on top of a few inches of rock wool, and didn't have any problems (although I sold the place 3 years after doing it). Yes, by all means raise the grade of the joists (they're not studs) to provide more room for insulation while giving you a good walkway/crawlway platform. I did that too, in a different house, later. You could add 2 x 6s directly on top of the existing joists, using vertical side-braces to connect everything. Would only need the side-braces on one side (every 3' or so) if you screw down the plywood sheathing before subjecting it to traffic. If your plan is to leave the plywood loose for later access (wiring, etc.), you should use braces on both sides of each joist, alternating them with eachother. Otherwise, there will always be a tendency for the added members to tip over if the loading above them gets too frisky.
Looks like someone went crazy with vertical/diagonal rafter braces. You could perform a check to see if they are really needed, using a rafter span table for your loading conditions. If not really necessary, removing them would give you a lot more open storage space.
Looks like someone went crazy with vertical/diagonal rafter braces.
Maybe not. It looks a lot like my house that has trusses for the major part of the house but hip roof rafters at each end or side.
The reason I would like to replace the insulation is: When I bought the house from an auction it was empty for one year and had an infestion of mice. I don't want to leave that knowing they pooped and peed all around. As you can see from the picture, there is also a lot of garbage in the insulation. I also would take the opportunity to seal every gap and check of the wires if they were damaged by the mice before putting new insulation in.
The question about the joist is, if a second row of joists will hold and not weaken the whole construction because of the additional weight.
I'm with you on wanting to remove the mouse crap/pee. Maybe a practical way to remove the insulation would be to first shovel what you can easily reach into large plastic bags, then use a large shop vac to pick up everything that's left. Wearing a good respirator, of course. Hanta virus is often transported by air-borne mouse urine spores, and can be fatal.
I wouldn't worry about the additional weight of adding 2 x 6s to the tops of the existing joists (unless they are already extremely over-spanned). A 12-footer installed @ 16 centers only adds about 5 PSF of weight, and if installed by integrally making it part of the original joist will actually (appreciably) strengthen the joist by increasing its section modulus.
There are companies in my area that specialize in removing contaminated insulation and replacing it with new. They have super duty vacs (probably powered by a pto from the truck's engine) and a six-inch hose for the removal. I would definitely look into this rather than the work of doing it myself. Insulation work is a low profit business so the cost would likely be the same or only a bit more than the cost of disposing of the old and the purchase of the new.
I tried to find businesses here which doing such kind of work, but it seems that in Nashville,TN this is not available.
@BridgeMan45
do you really think that would not be an issue with the weight? That would be great.
Hi Mad,
My experience with a typical shop vac is the filter gets clogged up rather fast. OK for final clean up, but the bulk needs to be raked and shoveled into plastic bags. Get a top line air mask, not those coffee filters, and a large trash can with large plastic bags so you can stuff them full. If you can run an exhaust to the outside somewhere, then the vac can act as a negative pressure fan to keep the dust moving out rather than into your home.
As mentioned, insulation work is often less expensive than DIY and removal is often part of the job. Where you may not be finding a stand alone service to remove the olf insulation, some of the insulation companies may do that as part of their work. Worth getting a couple of quotes.
Bud
Thank you. I already called a few companies who do insulation, but they do not remove it.
I am quite sure the weight of added joist depth will not be a problem. Since I don't know the size,number, length and density of the members you intend to add, I can only provide a generalization. For instance, if you plan on adding 5 average density SPF 2 x 6s, each 12' long in a given area, the total weight will be approximately 110 lb. (102 lb. for the joists, 8 lb. for vertical attachment stubs). That's probably going to be a small fraction of the weight of all the new insulation you'll be blowing in, and for sure just a fraction of the weight of plywood sheathing and stuff you'll some day be storing up there.
Thank you very much. I think your are right.
In addition to calling insulation contractors you might try crawl space cleaning companies. They will often do insulation removal as well. Pest control companies are another possibility.
I found a local company who rents insulation removal vacuums for $250 a day. I'll take that.
Make sure it isn't just a box store shop vac, but a specific large volume machine for that job. But it sounds like what you want. It should have hoses long enough to put the vac outside with its exhaust and that will make the job a whole lot cleaner.
HNY
Bud
It doesnt look like a box store shop vac. They got flex hoses very long enough. Thx
Tags: replacing, insulation, attic, plastic bags, additional weight, crazy with, crazy with vertical, crazy with vertical diagonal, crazy with vertical diagonal rafter, diagonal rafter, diagonal rafter braces, existing joists
