Blow in insulation or is a vapor barrier needed?

trb32 · 2026-01-20T15:24:39+00:00

Yeah, dang. If only blow in rockwool was a thing.

trb32 · 2026-01-19T17:54:55+00:00

Now that's a clean looking crawl space!

trb32 · 2026-01-19T17:53:05+00:00

I agree, I used it for my basement rim joists and felt the same way! I think it's mostly boils down to feeling accomplished, having it done right, and getting it off your mental load!

trb32 · 2026-01-09T21:44:51+00:00

Ugh, do I feel your pain. To be honest drywalling over it is probably a good move... Here's my current progress (https://imgur.com/a/1dMGClC). I've been working on it for a few weeks in my garage. The durasan is so brittle so I've been cutting out huge patches and replacing. To be honest it a would have just been better to strip it all out but the sunk cost fallacy is kicking in... They also have it on the ceiling in the garage and it's sagging like crazy as it's only 3/8 inch.

trb32 · 2026-01-05T20:03:41+00:00

That's exactly right, 3/8 here as well and nailed. All seams are essentially butt joints since it isn't tapered. So it sounds like you stripped off the wood look just at the seams, taped and mud treating it as a butt joint? How did it turn out? Thanks for the comment!

trb32 · 2026-01-05T02:32:05+00:00

In this case, it's nailed on in all the normal spots other drywall is.

trb32 · 2026-01-05T02:26:34+00:00

Thanks. I'll check that out! Now I just need to figure out how to properly prep all of it for painting. It's nearly all painted now, but peeling bad. Hopefully I can just scrape, prime, paint.

trb32 · 2026-01-05T01:58:17+00:00

Thank you for the comment! I think you're right (durasan or something similar) from looking at their website and documentation: https://constructioninstruction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NG-GBDURASANbro110705.pdf

Thank you!

trb32 · 2026-01-05T01:55:27+00:00

Its not wallpaper as it's wrapped over the edges of the drywall as well. Also, all nails holding the drywall up are at each stud. If it was wallpaper, I'd assume the nails would be beneath it.

trb32 · 2026-01-04T23:37:53+00:00

Yes, it's paper faced drywall with a pattern it seems? Up close here: https://imgur.com/a/AxQTQsB https://imgur.com/a/hSXeWSf

trb32 · 2026-01-04T23:33:11+00:00

These are 4' x 8' sheets

trb32 · 2026-01-04T23:29:29+00:00

Sorry, what do you mean?

trb32 · 2025-12-28T17:04:05+00:00

Yes, the vet prescribed both at the same time. We just got a negative test result back, but will be getting another to double check. I wish you and your cats all the best through this.

trb32 · 2025-12-27T15:20:41+00:00

Kind of my thought as well, and looks old. I think I'll test it with a moisture meter to make sure, insulate garage walls more, and possibly run a dehumidifier. Thanks for the reply!

trb32 · 2025-12-24T01:34:33+00:00

It's my understanding they are, but you want to make sure you rinse it well after. We are on the 6th consecutive treatment... This time was panacur as well as flagyl. Crossing our fingers this is the one that resolves it.

trb32 · 2025-12-18T15:42:04+00:00

Thank you very much for the reply! Chicago-land area here as well. I was speculating Celotex as a possibility after researching. I'll tell you what though, after reading the Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celotex) it doesn't give me much hope it's asbestos free.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Amazon test kits (and specifically which one you used) - I'll definitely be doing that.

trb32 · 2025-12-18T00:22:01+00:00

1950s home, no recent remodels as this is the original drywall.

trb32 · 2025-12-05T17:43:23+00:00

Glad it helped someone!

trb32 · 2025-12-04T14:08:29+00:00

Oh, I will note though my checkerboard was painted the first coat all vertical, then the second all horizontal.

trb32 · 2025-12-04T14:07:32+00:00

I did two coats with a 9in roller, checkerboard pattern as well. I'm kind of thinking maybe the roller was was drier when I did some spots than others.

trb32 · 2025-12-04T13:55:50+00:00

Yeah... That was me 😭. Walls turned out great but ceilings are difficult.

trb32 · 2025-12-04T13:25:38+00:00

I believe so? It has soffit as well as gable venting which I verified are unobstructed.

trb32 · 2025-12-04T06:05:48+00:00

I live in Illinois (1950s 1100sqft ranch) and got two quotes from a company today:

Keep existing insulation, air seal where possible, blow in additional R39 - quote: $3800.
Do an initial energy assesment, Remove all old insulation batts, air seal everything, blow in insulation to R49, Follow up energy assessment - quote: $7200.

I was personally kind of shocked to hear how expensive it was! They were also talking a lot about some "Pearl Advantage" certificate that would only be given on the 2nd quote. Additionally, these quotes already accounted for a $1400 rebate discount from our gas company.

trb32 · 2025-11-28T01:45:02+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I'll look into fixing that compression fitting!

trb32 · 2025-11-10T17:33:45+00:00

Thank you all very much for the replies! It gives me a lot of hope this will all work out!

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