I used a leaf rake to level it out. On flat ceilings with room to work it would be OK. A large plastic trash can, an electric drill, and a paddle wheel paint stirrer sized for 5-gallon paint buckets works wonderfully and is actually quite fast. I was very happy with this solution! I compressed blow in insulation while doing a project in a customers attic. To replace the "R" factor I purchased a block of insulation from a big box store.
I took it into the attic about 4' from the furthest point I wanted to re-cover and opened one end peeling the plastic back a bit like a banana. I used an electric weed eater with plastic string to shave the exposed insulation on the block directing the stream with the weed eater and re-positioning the block as necessary. I moved the block back toward my entrance point in small stages as I achieved the same floof height as the surrounding insulation.
Tips: Wear a mask! I wore a quality paper mask Cover the air intake of the weed eater with a rag I used a bungee chord to attach Electric weed eater.
I do not recommend gas powered in an attic. Watch your step. Don't fall through! Be very careful not to damage wires or hvac with the weed eater. My head lamp was very helpful. Hearing protection advisable. Cellulose insulation is available in batt form like fiberglass batting,as rolled blankets, with or without vapor barrier.
If you don't want to rent a blower, or if you're insulating open walls or ceilings, this may be an alternative. It will probably be more expensive to achieve the same R-value this way. A hand-held kitchen mixer works even better than the paint stirrer. Just throw chunks of the unexpanded insulation into a 5 gallon bucket and whip it up. Doing some small areas where i cant put fiberglass batts in the attic bays. Used a Shop-Vac after breaking the insulation into smaller chunks in a large bin.
The Shop Vac seem to fluff it pretty good. From there i just empty it into the attic bays and compress it slightly. Seems ok. I fluffed some in a barrel with a weed wacker. Put it in kitchen trash bags to insulate the tsnks under a camper. Yes, you can do it manually in the attic. I do it all the time when you only have to do a couple of bags. What do you do with a bag of ice when is tight?
Then you can use a rake to evenly distribute the cellulose insulation. I had done this manually in my walls. I stapled down a roll out tarp paper to each stud and the bottom stud.
Did this half way fluffed it in a huge crawfish pot I'm from Louisiana , and used a dust pan to scoop and fill between each stud. Went back on the top tucked it into the lower trap stapled down and did the same as filling. I also note I'm doing this in a tiny home. As many have said, insulation requires air pockets within the material to have any R value.
Those pockets effectively trap temperate air and reduce thermal transfer on opposite sides of the material. So yes, it HAS to be fluffed from it's vac-packed shipping form to be of any use and this will also make the material go further. My DIY method for fluffing and blowing without renting a machine - HD, for instance, rents the O-C Atticat for free with a 10 bag purchase - is to use a 50 gallon trash can and a 3 foot paint paddle on a drill just to stir the stuff up.
In the case of my garage where I was adding to the walls after the fact and didn't want to be doing a bunch of taping and mudding removing the drywall, I cut a 2" access hole near the top of the cavity and blew it through the leaf vac and a 2" hose attached to the blower nozzle end. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group.
Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Can I install cellulose insulation without a blower machine? Ask Question. Asked 9 years, 1 month ago. Active 1 year, 6 months ago. Look for the IC insulation contact marking on your fixture. This is mainly for recessed can lights. Also take a look around. Check for roof leaks, signs of rodent infestation, sketchy electrical wiring or bats hanging from the rafters.
Getting in and out of the attic can be an ordeal. Use your trip up there wisely. Replacing or adding loose fill insulation in your attic is one of those DIY projects that will pay for itself in energy savings. If you have a small to medium project, using your hands instead of an insulation blowing machine can save you time, money, and possibly a trip the the chiropractor.
This is an interesting and useful article. I fear that our loft needs attention. At a time when it's probably best to avoid having others in the home, DIY is a good option. Home Appliances. Air Conditioners. Water Heaters. Home Improvement. Interior Design. Home Furnishings. Home Decor. Lawn Care. Pest Control. Bed Bugs. Beneficial Organisms.
Garden Pest Control. Rock Gardens. Welcome to Dengarden! Related Articles. By Audrey Hunt. By L M Reid. By pinappu. By Nithya Venkat. By Eugene Brennan. By Dolores Monet. Blow-in insulation is not a perfect solution for walls.
Especially in older homes, wall cavities may have obstructions, such as electrical conduit, fire blocks, and plaster "keys" that prevent insulation from filling the cavities.
Good technicians will have techniques for getting around these obstructions. And no matter how well it is installed, all blow-in insulation will settle somewhat over time, which reduces the insulation value. Blow-in insulation is quite comparable in cost and R-value when compared to fiberglass batts or blankets. When blown-in attic cellulose gets wet, it takes a long time to dry out—if it ever completely dries. A roof leak or ice dam , for example, can saturate cellulose insulation in an attic or wall cavity.
While the insulation is treated to hinder mold, the additives are not foolproof. After cellulose gets moldy, it is a long, arduous project to scoop it out into plastic contractor's bags and haul it down, bag by bag.
And although cellulose blown-in insulation is relatively fireproof, it may be subject to smoldering when subjected to high heat or fire. This can be a concern in attics, especially around recessed light fixture canisters. Before blowing in attic insulation, it is wise to look for recommendations from manufacturers of recessed light fixtures on how to deal with heat issues.
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