Loose Fill Insulation Duggan

Loose-fill insulation in Duggan, measured rather than estimated

Blown-in material fills the awkward parts of an Duggan 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.

• Ceiling penetrations air-sealed first, not buried
• Settled depth specified and marked before the hose starts
• Baffles at the eaves so soffit venting stays clear
• Depth read back at the corners, not just where the hatch is
• 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 Duggan

Weight on the ceiling below

Duggan drywall in context

Knob-and-tube and older wiring

Storage areas and the platform question

The material must not block the eaves

Moisture is what ruins it

Bath fans and the ducts above the ceiling

Simple, clean, on schedule — Drywall in Edmonton

Loose Fill Insulation Duggan: your questions answered

Can you just add over what is already up there?

Usually, and it is the best value if the existing material is dry, even and uncontaminated. If it is damp, matted, rodent-affected or hiding unsealed penetrations, adding over it buries the problem — we tell you which one we found.

Cellulose or fibreglass?

Both work. Cellulose is denser, packs into odd shapes and resists air movement through it better; fibreglass is lighter, which matters on a ceiling of uncertain strength. Where there is existing material, matching it is usually simpler than layering the other over it.

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.

Will it block my soffit vents?

Not if baffles go in first. Loose material can also be pushed around by wind at the eaves, so the baffles both hold it clear of the vents and stop the edge being scoured thin — which is exactly where the house loses heat.

My bathroom fan vents into the attic. Does that matter?

A great deal — it is the fastest way to soak an attic from inside. We look for it while the space is open and flag it before covering anything rather than blowing over the top of it.

How messy is it?

Dusty — the machine sits outside and a hose runs through the house to the hatch. We protect the route, seal around the hatch and vacuum afterwards. What the house looks like at the end is most of the difference between crews.