Doing Your Own Attic?

[H_O]

Re: Doing Your Own Attic?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yuri_</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes Gen - that's what my thought was too - it just seemed logical to me to throw out the old ratty insulation and just start anew.

But about half of the estimates we got said to leave the old - when I asked why - they say it's a plus to have the extra insulation there. Just seems dumb to me. We're going to tear out the old.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">from what i have observed, remove the old ones, dash dem weh.
</div></div> </div></div>why would you remove the old insulation?
it is unnecesary-plus you want a minimum of an R40 insulation value in the attic. so what you remove will only cost you more in new insulation.
have it blown in on top off the old. MAKE SURE you dont block the soffit. you can buy styrofoam channel vents that staple to the rafters. you may also want to add a couple extra vents on the roof to circulate more air into the attic.
BUT DONT REMOVE THE OLD-just have it blown in on top

[H_O]

Re: Doing Your Own Attic?

first you need to know what the square footage of your attic surface space is.

if you rent the machine and buy the insulation, it costs around 2.50 a square foot by the time your said and done.
however-remebr- air circulation in your attic is also critical as having the proper R value.

[Yuriatin]

Attic DONE!

So we’ve completed the attic.

Like I said before, we’d gotten about 1/2 dozen estimates to get this done and in the end, realized we could really do this on our own.

<span style="color: #FF0000">HOME DEPOT $2900

CONTRACTOR #1 $1400

CONTRACTOR #2 $750

HANDYMAN $1000</span>

There were others but, you get the gist.

Estimates varied wildly.

Even quoting the job apples to apples, they were all radically different.

Of course each of these guys had they’re own preferred method of insulating that they thought was best.

One guy wanted to do the cellulose blow in, even tho we told him we weren’t interested in this route – he insisted it was the best. He wanted to drill holes in the floor and blow it in over the existing batt insulation.

Another cat wanted to rip up the boards and plywood, lat batts, lay the boards back down and then put another layer of batts over that. (wrong!)

On &amp; on it went.

Like I said, after we did our research, we decided to do it own our own.

It’s said that you should never remove old insulation – that one should just lay down the new over the old.

Well – that’s not always true – situations can vary.

Our insulation was so ratty, it basically wasn’t doing anything. It was unevenly installed – some places thick, others not. Some places had one type of product, another place in the attic had a different type of insulation. Some of it was just old balled up newspaper! There were dead bugs here and there, etc. Not a pretty site.

We ripped up the boards and plywood – removed all the old insulation – shop vac’d out the entire attic – every nook and cranny of dust, debris, etc.

Bought the needed amount of batt. Installed it (R30) properly in the floor joists. Then came back over it perpendicular with an additional layer of R19.

We didn’t put all of the boards back down. We only put back a section of boards in a space where we would be storing stuff.

The whole thing cost us just under $300.

For sure, a job that you can do on your own.
<span style="font-size: 8pt"><span style="font-style: italic">
(an nuh AX if nelly every ONE ah di contracta dem STILL ah call wi fi ax iffin dem cyah come duh di jab ar whammeck dem nevva getti)
</span></span>

[kia027]

Re: Attic DONE!

Congratulations Yuri_ and mrYuri_

how much time did this project take?

S

[Yuriatin]

Re: Attic DONE!

It took 2 days.

I’m sure it could’ve been done in 1 but I insisted my husband take a break because he’d worked an 18hr work day, came home and started in on the job.

The labor intensive part was taking up the boards and actual cleaning out the attic.

The boards were QUITE securely nailed to the floor.

Of course he could’ve skipped the vac cleaning too but we just really wanted it spic &amp; span. To me, not cleaning out the attic before laying down the new was like taking off a baby’s dirty diaper and slapping on a new diaper without cleaning the kid’s bottom.

[MsExced]

Re: Attic DONE!

Congrats Yuri_

So come with the story because mi know Mr Yuri had nuff to say

[kia027]

Re: Attic DONE!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yuri_</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It took 2 days.




Of course he could’ve skipped the vac cleaning too but we just really wanted it spic &amp; span. To me, not cleaning out the attic before laying down the new was like taking off a baby’s dirty diaper and slapping on a new diaper without cleaning the kid’s bottom.

</div></div>

Totally agree and glad to know it did not take that long.. and Kudos!!

[Yuriatin]

Re: Attic DONE!

He did have a lot to say – <span style="font-style: italic">way too much</span> to write here.

I will say this tho – no joke when I say they keep calling about the job they lost.

The home depot peeps called <span style="font-style: italic">(seems like a central hub or something with reps)</span> saying they were following up on the quote. Hubby answered and told them he was doing the job himself – thanks but no thanks.

Days pass.

They call again – he tells them the same thing.

Days pass.

In the mail – a survey about the process:

- how was your estimating experience
- was there anything we could’ve done to get the work
- will you use home depot again
- do you have any more projects coming up
- what your email address, etc, etc

Days pass.

Home Depot calls again asking if we got the survey.

Unfortunately, hubby answered the call.

Mercy faddah!



Mi shame.

Di mounta bad wud bad wud whe dat man tell di peeple dem an nuffi call back im yahd sayka dem too dyam strikin’ teef ...

Haven’t heard from them since.

[kia027]

Re: Attic DONE!

and a big fi hubby as he stopped the calls?

What is next on the list Yuri_

[Yuriatin]

Re: Attic DONE!

We have a lot to do.

We’re taking our time tho – researching, researching, researching, talking to people – trying to be thorough.

Life spare, we hope to add a toilet/sink/shower in the basement.

And we have to redo our kitchen.

The kitchen is really why we got our please so cheap. Essentially, there’s almost no kitchen.

It’s extremely small. You can’t have the fridge and the oven door all the way open at the same time!

Virtually no counter space.

But we have a good sized yard and we’re on a corner lot – we’ve lots of space so we plan to open it up.

For now, we’re fine with it.

Lie – HE’S fine with it.

I need a kitchen to work in – no need to be a gourmet kitchen or anything like that – just need a right and proper functioning kitchen.

Hubby likes the small space because he likes it as an excuse to not have people over, entertain, etc.

Yuh done no seh im nuh too too wha nubaddie come ah im house.

[MsExced]

Re: Attic DONE!

knew I could count on Mr Yuri_

Good that you guys took the time to vac

[julie*mango]

Re: Attic DONE!

congrats Yuri ....glad u got it done in only 2 days ...I'm already getting impatient with my contractor....there are 14 windows to be installed in the sunroom an it seem like him a do dem one-one

[julie*mango]

Re: Attic DONE!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Yuri_</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Hubby likes the small space because he likes it as an excuse to not have people over, entertain, etc.

Yuh done no seh im nuh too too wha nubaddie come ah im house.

</div></div>

soun like my hubby im seh if we fix up di place too good den ppl a go waan come ova every second

[Yuriatin]

Re: Attic DONE!

... seet deh - same ting - Mr Yuri nuh wha nubaddie come linga too lang!

[Yuriatin]

Re: Attic DONE!

That doesn't even sound right.

Did he say how long it was going to take when you all talked about that part of the job?

Contracta dem nuh ez bah bah.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _____</div><div class="ubbcode-body">congrats Yuri ....glad u got it done in only 2 days ...I'm already getting impatient with my contractor....there are 14 windows to be installed in the sunroom an it seem like him a do dem one-one </div></div>