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With the framing, mechanical and electrical inspections passed we started insulating the home.  We used Roxul batt insulation on the interior 2 x 4 wall because we were able to get a fantastic price, reduced by 65%.  I was happy to have the product as it has a slightly better R value than the typical “pink” fiberglass insulation.

Note the floors are covered with paper to protect the finished concrete.  We did a diamond grind, stain and sealant finish before the interior walls went in to make it easier for the floor finisher.

For the exterior cavities in the walls and the attic we used a locally manufactured cellulose product from Thermocell.  Cellulose is by far the most environmentally friendly insulation product we can use in my opinion.  It is local, has a high recycled content and doesn’t produce a lot of global warming in the manufacturing process.  Thermocell stepped up as a project sponsor and provided very helpful input on the installation of the materials in the concealed wall cavities.

Their focus was insuring we got a consistent density of the cellulose in the cavity.  Fortunately, we had an area between the house and garage that did not have plywood on the exterior.  By meshing this wall and testing the air pressure setting on the blower we were able to set up for a density between 3.25 and 3.5 lb/cubic ft.  This is key to preventing any settling that would create horizontal gaps in the insulation layer. Thermocell also upgraded the material to the Procell product that performs better with moisture.

Working with our insulation installer, Thermo Homes,  to achieve the correct density was key to this phase.  Will Marshall, one of the owner at Thermo Homes who is very knowledgeable in building science coordinated with Thermocell to insure the installation was done correctly.  I love that they clean up after their work.  Nice bonus!

In the attic we used the standard density of 1.6lb/cubic ft.  The 26″ layer gives us nearly R100 in the ceiling.

With these densities, we used 432 bundles of cellulose, an entire truck load.  Only a third of the bundles installed are seen in the photo.  This materials weighs 10,800 lbs and adds significantly to the thermal mass of the building.  It also provides incredible sound protection from outside noise.  It is so quiet in the house.  The airtightness, high quality windows and doors, and insulation all contribute to this!