Installing Blown Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is a type of blown-in insulation. It is made from recycled newspaper clippings and is environmentally friendly. The insulation is usually blown into an attic to help insulate a house. It will keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This insulation can have high R-values, depending on how much is blown in. Installing cellulose insulation is a great way to cut down on energy costs and save some money in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Plastic
• Duct tape
• Blower
• Cellulose insulation
• Dust mask
• Safety goggles
• Gloves
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Measure the area of the attic to determine the total square footage. This will help you figure out how many bags of insulation will be needed for the room. Measure the length and width of each side of the room and multiply the two together. Add up all four sides to compute the total square footage.

2. Cover up any vents or other flashing with plastic. Set the plastic over the vents and tape it in place with duct tape. Seal off any other areas that you do not want to be sprayed with the plastic.

3. Pour the cellulose insulation into the blower and begin in the back corner of the attic. Aim the blower at the wall cavity and turn it on to begin spraying out the insulation. Cover all of the space between the two studs in the wall. Insert a ruler to measure the thickness of the insulation and add more, if necessary.

4. Move to the next wall cavity and continue down the back side of the attic, adding insulation to the blower when necessary. Continue around the attic, blowing insulation into the openings until all of the walls have been covered. Install insulation between the floor joists as well, working from the back of the attic to the front.

5. Remove all the duct tape holding the plastic in place. Take off the plastic and wait for the insulation to settle back into the cavity. Check the thickness in various spots with a ruler to make sure it is as thick as the desired R-value. (The thickness can be found on the bags of insulation.)

Tips & Warnings

• The R-value tells how insulated the wall is after the cellulose has been blown in. The higher the R-value, the greater the effectiveness of the insulation; the lower the R-value, the lesser the effectiveness of the insulation. By way of example, a wall with 3.2 inches of insulation has an R-value of 11. Insulation that is 8.8 inches thick has an R-value of 30.

• Always wear safety goggles, gloves and a dust mask when working with any type of insulation to help protect your skin and eyes from irritation.

• Wear long sleeves during the installation process.

References

• You Tube: Installing Cellulose Insulation
• CIMA: How to install insulation yourself