"HVAC fella" wrote in message
...
3.5 " insulation is all you can get in a 2x4" stud space. There should
be some valueable info avail. on this topic thru a Google search. Im in
northern illinois and have 3.5 " in the walls and i had 18" blown in
the attic over the existing 6" batts. Made a big difference in the
heating bills. Get hold of some tight fitting thermopane windows too.


The roof is somewhat open. They have 2 x 6 joists on 24 inch centers. Over
that are 1 x 6 strips of lath with metal roofing screwed to the lath. The
ends of the corrugated roof are open so and there is a ridge vent so there
is plenty of air circulation. They build these 20 x 24 foot homes off site
and then truck them in. Everything is budget all the way. There is no access
at all to the attic except to remove a metal roof panel. However the side is
vinyl siding and they can easily blow in plenty of insulation, something
that I will have done before winter. The porch was open and joists are only
2 x 4, but it isn't standard #2 pine. It's some sort of hardwood rough cut
and a true 2 x 4. I added 8 feet in length to the porch so that it runs the
full 24 feet x 8 feet wide and then enclosed it. My joists are #2 pine 2 x 6
on 16 in centers instead of 24". So I can insulate my part as it should be,
but the old construction is something I'll have to live with unless I tear
everything done and start over. There is a limit as to how far I'm going to
go on a house that sells for $24,000.

Bob