Loose Fill Insulation Cavanagh

Loose-fill insulation in Cavanagh, measured rather than estimated

Blown-in material fills the awkward parts of an Cavanagh building that batts leave gapped — around cross-bracing, over the top plates of interior walls, into the shallow triangle at the eaves. It settles over time, which is why it is specified at a settled depth rather than the depth it looks on the day. Air sealing comes first, because loose material laid over an open ceiling penetration hides the leak instead of stopping it.

• Depth read back at the corners, not just where the hatch is
• Baffles at the eaves so soffit venting stays clear
• Settled depth specified and marked before the hose starts
• Ceiling penetrations air-sealed first, not buried
• Existing material assessed — topped up, or removed if it is wet or contaminated
• Even coverage carried right out over the top plates

Loose Fill Insulation Cavanagh

Access, hoses and how much of the house we cross

Cavanagh drywall in context

Pot lights buried in loose material

Weight on the ceiling below

Knob-and-tube and older wiring

Topping up what is already there

Bath fans and the ducts above the ceiling

Simple, clean, on schedule — Drywall in Edmonton

Loose Fill Insulation Cavanagh: your questions answered

Does the attic hatch need doing too?

Yes, or it undoes a good part of the rest. It needs an insulated weatherstripped cover and a dam around the opening tall enough to hold the new depth back from spilling through every time it is opened.

Will it make the house quieter?

It noticeably reduces airborne noise from outside — traffic, aircraft, neighbours. It does very little for footsteps from a floor above, which travel through structure, and we would rather say which half it fixes.

What if you find old wiring?

If we find wiring that must not be covered, we stop and say so rather than blowing over it. That is an electrician's call, not ours, and it is a real reason a job gets paused rather than finished the same day.

Is it too heavy for my ceiling?

Rarely, but worth thinking about on an older lath ceiling or a long unsupported span. Where the ceiling is old or already sagging we would rather use the lighter material at a sensible depth, and sometimes recommend fixing the ceiling first.

Do you seal before blowing?

Yes, and it is the step most often skipped. Loose material laid over an open ceiling penetration hides the leak rather than stopping it, and the warm moist air coming through is what wets the insulation from inside.

Can I still store things in the attic?

Only over a raised platform. Anything laid straight on the joists compresses the material and cuts a thin channel through the middle of the ceiling. Otherwise a fully insulated attic is not also a storage room.