insulating/sealing spaces

What do people place in walls stripped down to the 2x4's before they fill them with insulation?

I've worked with tents in the past but have a couple rooms stripped down trying to figure out what's next. It's an old place and I see lil bits of light creeping in through the slats. Wanna seal this correctly before I put insulation and sheetrock.

Also any ideas for what specific type/brand of insulation to use? I'd like whatever will insulate the best, that I can get from home depot or lowes etc.

Steer said:

What do people place in walls stripped down to the 2x4's before they fill them with insulation?

I've worked with tents in the past but have a couple rooms stripped down trying to figure out what's next. It's an old place and I see lil bits of light creeping in through the slats. Wanna seal this correctly before I put insulation and sheetrock.

Also any ideas for what specific type/brand of insulation to use? I'd like whatever will insulate the best, that I can get from home depot or lowes etc.

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I used a commercial foam sprayer and filled the walls.

So look into renting a spray foam machine.. nice suggestion. Spray foam was what I planned, but didn't seem the places would come for such a small job. Thanks

Steer said:

So look into renting a spray foam machine.. nice suggestion. Spray foam was what I planned, but didn't seem the places would come for such a small job. Thanks

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It’s the best way to go. I have my rooms in my basement so it made since. Plus it makes for good sound and vibration proofing. Seals any random cracks or leaking areas in the room and holds heat well. On top of that most of the foam is fairly fire resistant. Way more than any of the traditional insulation.

Steer said:

What do people place in walls stripped down to the 2x4's before they fill them with insulation?

I've worked with tents in the past but have a couple rooms stripped down trying to figure out what's next. It's an old place and I see lil bits of light creeping in through the slats. Wanna seal this correctly before I put insulation and sheetrock.

Also any ideas for what specific type/brand of insulation to use? I'd like whatever will insulate the best, that I can get from home depot or lowes etc.

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Vapor barrier, insulation, drywall. Run all your planned electrical while it's stripped. Hole saw and through the studs. Ground fault interrupers on all. And ground the piss out of the entire home better than most. This electrician who works for BP at Prudhoe Bay grounds every building he lives in or owns. Copper rods 48" with the ground wire then clamped to it. Old fashioned and works.

Thanks for that. Found an electrician, said to have him come back once we brace some of the 2x4's that need it and complete insulation. This was before we decided on spray foam kits or a rental however, I'll let him know to see if that changes the order of things. He mentioned something about doing a ground, will clarify... nice suggestions.

Steer said:

Thanks for that. Found an electrician, said to have him come back once we brace some of the 2x4's that need it and complete insulation. This was before we decided on spray foam kits or a rental however, I'll let him know to see if that changes the order of things. He mentioned something about doing a ground, will clarify... nice suggestions.

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Personally I prefer hard conduit with wire pulled through but some electricians use simpler materials. If he's a licensed electrician I would go with his choice. They know their stuff.

Any ideas on sealing windows while keeping a normal blinds look from the outside?

I want it to look normal from the outside. My idea is blinds, black out curtain, build some type of box around that, attach it around the frame of the window. Have it so the wood box/frame sticks out 3-4 inches. When we do the insulation I can spray foam in the box sealing the window? Have had a hard time figuring out a best solution on this.

Btw electrician used my equipment list to hook things up, made sure everything is safe/covered with room to spare, he's into his stuff and does nice work, found what I'm doing cool/interesting and went to town.

Close blinds and a sheet of black painted timber sheet screwed into the inside surround should do the trick.

Or blackout curtains?

Curtains are normal with blinds.

PrometheanLeaf said:

Or blackout curtains?

Curtains are normal with blinds.

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No one will know if there's cheap wood or more expensive blackout curtains behind the blinds.