tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433191378230739758.post969494023531023670..comments2023-11-05T09:28:37.370-09:00Comments on Off-Grid in Alaska: Insulation - Part 1Plickety Cathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02252583762292412093noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433191378230739758.post-87138100367955445902011-03-20T17:17:45.008-08:002011-03-20T17:17:45.008-08:00I'm impressed that you two are able to make pr...I'm impressed that you two are able to make progress in this weather !<br /><br />Thanks for the update, and take care of that injured hand. :)Dan Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11189866002273597534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433191378230739758.post-89321766778019230302011-03-20T11:04:15.918-08:002011-03-20T11:04:15.918-08:00Chris, we chose dense-pack blown cellulose insulat...Chris, we chose dense-pack blown cellulose insulation for several reasons: <br /><br />1) Cellulose has the best R-value (or U-value in the UK) per inch for the price. Sprayed, close-cell polyurethane foam is the best, with rigid foam panels being next best, but both of those are much more expensive.<br /><br />2) Gungnir is highly sensitive to fiberglass/glass wool and it makes him break out in hives just being near it. Even if I did all the insulation myself, I'd have to burn my clothes and take a shower before I could touch him again :)<br /><br />3) None of the commercially available batt insulations fit our staggered-stud, double-wall construction with our wide stud spacing. We would have had to install two layers of batts to fill the depth and then tack those in with furring strips to span the studs... which would have been just as time consuming and much more expensive.<br /><br />4) Cellulose is organic, contains no toxic chemicals or VOC (only treated with borate), and is made right here in Alaska from recycled paper and reclaimed pulp tree slash (from the logging industry). I like to use local, recycled, and non-synthetic materials as much as possible.<br /><br />5) Two other recycled materials that we could have used were denim and wool. Unfortunately, neither of them are available in our area, and we still would have blown those rather than using batts because of our wall spacing.<br /><br />One thing that Gungnir has noticed is that there are some building materials that he's familiar with from the UK that just aren't available or popular here in the US; but that we have a bunch of materials that are popular here that he couldn't really find in the UK. ROFL!<br /><br />Marybeth, I know that Charlie will love the new cozy, quiet cabin... especially since we're putting a gate at the top of the stairs so that the loft is a Ripley-free zone when we're not up there. <br /><br />All that insulation will also keep it much cooler in the cabin during the summer. We have the windows on the north & south rake walls upstairs that create a strong cross-draft, and we have block out curtains to cut the worst of the midday solar gain. Downstairs we have the two windows on the south wall and the doors on the east & west wall to provide a strong draft. If we have all the windows and doors open, we get a baby tornado right through the living room and up the staircase :) <br /><br />Once we get the porches built and screened in against the mosquitoes and biting flies, leaving the doors open during the day will probably be par for the course since we'll be in and out working all day anyway.<br /><br />Yes, I'm hell on my hands and generally just accident prone and self-injuring ROFL. It's a curse, but I think my frequent small injuries are so much better than catastrophic ones... I could have fallen off the roof!! I think all my little clumsy wounds build me up some sort of balance that protects me from serious injury, kind of like Karma. :DPlickety Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252583762292412093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433191378230739758.post-23061003480975335542011-03-20T06:38:37.554-08:002011-03-20T06:38:37.554-08:0070! WOW that's great!!!! I know you'll be ...70! WOW that's great!!!! I know you'll be so happy (Charlie too) when you can start sleeping in your nice QUIET warm cabin. I just have one question. I remember you guys getting sick last summer from the heat. How will you cool the upstairs this summer? Also take care of that hand. Gezz you and your poor hands.Marybethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14172935707623485920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433191378230739758.post-36876890381137888912011-03-20T03:34:12.109-08:002011-03-20T03:34:12.109-08:00Hi PC,
Well done on achieving another major miles...Hi PC,<br /><br />Well done on achieving another major milestone!<br /><br />I'm a little bewildered as to why you chose to use blown isulation and the hassle of tacking supporting mesh? Here in the UK, this method would only be used for retrospectively adding insulation to an old house (eg filling cavity wall) - for new builds (like yours) we would use either rigid or rolled glass-wool insulation as they are much easier to manouver quickly and are 'built' into the walls, floor and roof.<br /><br />I'd be interested to know your thoughts on this.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />ChrisUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11303082211830100202noreply@blogger.com