DIYbanter - Wall blown cellulose (2x4)

On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:38:13 GMT, "Martik"
wrote:

Looking for a definitive answer whether this is possible with a Home Depot
type of blower. Has anyone had recent experience doing this and with which
model blower?

I can't tell you the model, but I got it at Lowes. I note that
the [lousy] instructions at both HD & Lowe's in my area don't have
anything about blowing into wall cavities. The walls we did were
a single floor, 20 feet long, 2x4s with plywood on both sides.

1st problem was that it has been 30 years since I last blew cellulose
so I didn't ask for the remote switch. It was on page 3 of the
paperwork, but I'm not certain Lowe's even had one. I had to ask
3 people to get the siding nozzle & although the machines were *well*
used, the small nozzles [2 of them in a box under the counter-- far
from the machines] were brand new.

The remote switch is important with the walls as you want to stop the
blowing *immediately* when the nozzle clogs or wall cavity is full--
and clear the clog at the nozzle instead of having to snake 30' of
hose.

The machine was also missing the sliding panel on the bottom that
adjusts the flow rate. For attics that is fine, but we had to
jury-rig a slider to close off about 75% of the flow for the walls.

Once we got blowing I remembered that we used to buy a finer, fluffier
cellulose for the walls than the stuff we used in attics. It was
less likely to clog the 1" nozzle. The stuff my Lowe's sells was
very clumpy, but worked fine for a full blast shot in the attic.

All that aside, though, and with the help of a 7 yr old who was handy
and caught on to the sound of the machine real quick we managed to do
a 20 foot wall in a couple hours. [I got the nozzle end-- brother in
law kept the hopper full and 7 yr old stood by on the extension cord
and unplugged it when I said 'Whoa'. After the first couple
cavities, 7 yr old often anticipated my command.

4 hours total for 30 bags- the 20 foot wall, and the rest in an attic.
[not including cleanup, which is a couple hours with a good shopvac]

It worked out alright for us-- but if it was anything complicated [2
stories, lathe & plaster inside walls, lots of corners or old
constuction that is likely to have corner bracing. . . I'd have a
pro come out and price it.

Jim