DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:

Hello,

I live in an 80 year old bungalow with quasi-balloon framing. The
exterior walls currently have no insulation and I'd like to remedy
that. The stud cavities are open to the basement along the foundation
plate due to the framing technique. I was wondering what the
possibility of using an insulation blower from home depot to blow
insulation into the cavity from below would be. Obviously I'd have to
install some blocking after blowing it in to keep it from falling back
into the basement but that would be no big deal.

I was thinking I could shove the hose all the way up the wall, blow it
in and keep blowing as I pulled the hose out.

Any suggestions? Other methods? I know I could pull shingles on the
outside and drill holes but If I can avoid that, it might be better.
The windows in my house go almost to the ceiling so missing the spaces
above the windows would be no big deal.

Matt

I'll give your scheme a qualified "maybe".

Bungalow = single story?

Do this as an experiment:
Get a length of the hose you think will fit
and be stiff enough. Try pushing it up the
wall/stud space. Have someone upstairs to
listen for its travel.

It will be a little slower with the reduced
size hose but the stuff will blow.

Caveats:
You'll probably have a dusty mess in the basement.

Especially if you use a humidifier in winter,
consider adding vapor barrier (paints/wallcoverings)
to walls, otherwise you could have significant
moisture problem in the walls/insulation.

Jim