Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   LCA
   Member

   I'm interested in the pros and cons of retrofitting housing insulation. I've had a quote for "Autex Greenstuf Underfloor" & "Knauf Insulation Supafil Carbon Plus" for cavity insulation. My house in Melbourne is late 60s cream brick veneer with no insulation in the walls and wooden floors. Is it worth the expense?

   Posted Tuesday 27 Mar 2018 @ 3:25:50 am from IP #
2. 

   GBD1
   Member

   Is the roof / ceiling well insulated?
   If that's done then the walls are the next best thing to do.
   Have a look at using granulated rockwool which is pumped into the walls.
   The comfort level improvement is significant if the walls have nothing at present.
   And also pay attention to putting in draft seals around your doors and windows and heavy curtains to insulate the windows.
   As for the floors - typically it's harder to do and the gains are not as great for the effort/expense versus the walls.
   Heat rises. the higher up the warm air disappears - the better the benefits of stopping it.
   ie ceilings, walls, windows, then floors

   Posted Wednesday 18 Apr 2018 @ 2:10:04 pm from IP #
3. 

   jdaley
   Member

   Except if you have draughts under the floor, they can suck heat out.
   Particularly if its a floor with gaps around the walls which can happen with hardwood floors, each room had its floor boards laid after the wall frames were installed.

   Posted Friday 27 Apr 2018 @ 6:41:31 am from IP #
4. 

   Morbo
   Member

   cream is a bonus, the walls may not get as hot as red ones. If you dont mind it, best bet is painting it white.
   Next sisalation onto the roof, thats a fun job... Bunnings sells electric staple guns for $40. Then get proper sharpshooter staples, the Bunnings variety does not penetrate into dried up hardwood.
   Then batts. Best the glasswool. Easy to cut, does not burn. Just a bit itchy. Winter is the time for that, roof is nice and cold. Plus you would want to start with the foil, so you dont step onto the batts. And it gets brighter. Get some 2m x 0.5 m boards, plywood or the like and make a walkway in the roof space.
   In a brick veneer there is not that much air movement under your house. So the temperature there will be quite stable. I did not find much difference in what I tried in my subfloor, weatherboard. Get the heavy duty sisalation, thats good enough. Maybe stainless steel staples. But after 6 years mine still look ok.

   Posted Friday 1 Jun 2018 @ 11:54:08 am from IP #

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