Cellulose insulation in walls?

[hoohaa]

I've torn all the sheetrock out of the uninsulated exterior walls and ceiling in my 20x24' attached garage/shop with 8' ceiling. I'm planning to put up a radiant barrier over the garage, sheetrock it and insulate. I have about 34' of exterior uninsulated wall to deal with before the rock goes up.

I've heard people say that cellulose gives a higher R value than fiberglass in the same thickness wall. Is this true? I'd imagine it would be quite a bit cheaper as well. I'm already planning to use cellulose in the attic.

It seems like it would be much easier to just put in fiberglass. How do you put cellulose in a wall? Cut holes in the tops of the wall between studs? Staple up plastic before the sheetrock goes on?

[PAToyota]

Problem with blown in cellulose (like you use for attics) in a wall is that it settles. They do use a spray-in cellulose for walls that goes in wet and has an adhesive that keeps it in place, but that isn't a DIY product AFAIK.

[slypig]

I'm partial to foam insulation after having it blown into a barn/shop I am renovating. Adds structural strength and eliminates any drafts and critters.

It cost me the same (within $100.00) to have a pro do it as apposed to doing it my self, I bet I would have made a huge mess anyway.

Pics can be seen here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60283506@N00/sets/72157605214609011/

[vanguard_anon]

For a verticle wall the key benefit of cellulose is that you can add it after the drywall. If you don't have the drywall up yet just use fiberglass and or foam.

FWIW, I used cellulose in my garage. I took a few pics along the way.
http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/articles/shop_heat.htm

[85blue4runner]

soy based spray in foam is the cats ass.. there are petroluem based spray products as well, just not as clean environmentally. You may also want to check out a product called Rock Wool, very green, doesnt burn, absorb moisture, rot, etc and pretty cheap too.

Another alternative is batts of insulation like traditional fiberglass, but they are denim batts, made from post consumer and post industrial waste and treated with an organic fire retardant to meet building codes.. These two are DIY for sure, the spray foam isnt really since you need special equipment.

Fiberglass is nasty shit for sure, both to work with and environmentally... For the radiant barrier, check out:

http://www.radiantbarrier.com/products.htm

[DSW]

Spray foam is tops on my list.

The newer fibergalls insulations are now where near as bad to work with as some of the older ones. Owens Corning made a soft nonitchy "fibergalss" a while back but I haven't seen it lately. I think it was more along the lines of the synthetic fibers used in winter coats like Qualofill and so on.

If Rockwool is anything like the old rockwool insulation that used to be used years back that stuff itches worse than anything else.

[hoohaa]

I'll look into spray foam but I have a feeling it's going to be above my price range. Maybe I'll just toss fiberglass in the walls.

[mike b]

I don't know what you budget is,but diy spray foam insulation is avaliable online from a place called Tiger Foam Spray Insulation.If I rember right it is a bit pricey,and when I checked local at a home show could have it done by a contractor for about the same price

[slypig]

I don't know what you budget is,but diy spray foam insulation is avaliable online from a place called Tiger Foam Spray Insulation.If I rember right it is a bit pricey,and when I checked local at a home show could have it done by a contractor for about the same price

That was my experience, DIY $1400, pro did it for $1500.