Thoughts on DIY Internal Insulation on new Build

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pipe60

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#2433461 6-Mar-2020 03:44

You will get a better job done if you do it yourself. We kicked the insulation company off site halfway thru our build. If you do use an installer check there work afterwards we found they did a very poor job.

neb

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#2433462 6-Mar-2020 03:47

pipe60: You will get a better job done if you do it yourself. We kicked the insulation company off site halfway thru our build. If you do use an installer check there work afterwards we found they did a very poor job.

+1. Reason is that they're on the clock and want to get finished as quickly as possible while you can take the time to get it right.

As others have pointed out, fibreglass batts are an absolute bastard to cut and install, wear as much protective gear as you've got available.

lxsw20

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#2433463 6-Mar-2020 04:19

Out of interest, what do you think you stand to achieve by insulating your internal walls? A family builder has said they think it's a waste of time, but of course are willing to do it if you want to pay for it.

Jase2985

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#2433464 6-Mar-2020 05:03

@lxsw20:

Out of interest, what do you think you stand to achieve by insulating your internal walls? A family builder has said they think it's a waste of time, but of course are willing to do it if you want to pay for it.

its not normally for insulation purposes, more for sound transfer purposes, which i believe is what the OP is after.

neb

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#2433647 6-Mar-2020 13:54

lxsw20:
Out of interest, what do you think you stand to achieve by insulating your internal walls? A family builder has said they think it's a waste of time, but of course are willing to do it if you want to pay for it.

Two things, sound insulation and insulating between heated and unheated portions of the house. For example we're putting insulation in the wall between the living room/dining room/kitchen area and the open stairwell up from the basement of the house, which will be a source of cold air during the winter.

mdooher

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#2433652 6-Mar-2020 14:01

neb:
lxsw20:

Out of interest, what do you think you stand to achieve by insulating your internal walls? A family builder has said they think it's a waste of time, but of course are willing to do it if you want to pay for it.

Two things, sound insulation and insulating between heated and unheated portions of the house. For example we're putting insulation in the wall between the living room/dining room/kitchen area and the open stairwell up from the basement of the house, which will be a source of cold air during the winter.

the lack of echo is amazing too, it give the house a feeling solidity and quality...I know that sounds like rubbish but it is true.

Matthew

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neb

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#2433655 6-Mar-2020 14:04

mdooher:
the lack of echo is amazing too, it give the hoes a feeling solidity and quality

Good point, if you've got hoes working in your house then good sound insulation would be essential.

mdooher

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#2433664 6-Mar-2020 14:16

neb:
mdooher:

the lack of echo is amazing too, it give the hoes a feeling solidity and quality

Good point, if you've got hoes working in your house then good sound insulation would be essential.

and fixed....:)

Matthew

Paul1977

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#2445144 24-Mar-2020 08:04

Our house was just about to have the cladding start, but now it's tools down for all the tradies for at least 4 weeks because of the lockdown.

I'm wondering if this 4 weeks would be an opportunity to get started on some of the internal insulation, as I could get some from Bunnings before they close down.

Once the house is wrapped and has windows and doors (but no cladding) is it water tight enough to do some insulation of internal walls with moisture being an issue?

If so, what are peoples thoughts on the R2.2 Earthwool Multi-Use Rolls for internal walls? They are a lot more affordable than the R2.6 or R2.8 Acoustic Batts, but I can't really find any info on how they compare in regards to sound dampening.

It would be just me going directly from home to the building site by myself and having not contact with anyone, so I assume that is not against the lockdown rules?

Thanks

rogercruse

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#2445152 24-Mar-2020 08:23

Paul1977: ...tools down for all the tradies for at least 4 weeks because of the lockdown...

Hi @Paul1977 has your builder confirmed this?

We have a completion date of the 23rd April and this was confirmed BEFORE Jacinda's announcement at yesterday... Expecting a phone call / email from my builder with a update... hopefully, a positive update.

Our new home is no longer a 'building site' and is starting to become habitable... a bit rough admittedly without any functioning bathrooms or electricity, but I would sooner move in than stay additional weeks in the rental that we've living in at the moment.

Paul1977

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#2445183 24-Mar-2020 08:46

rogercruse: has your builder confirmed this?

I checked with the bricklayer yesterday and he advised they won't be starting until after the lockdown is lifted.

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billgates

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#2445190 24-Mar-2020 08:47

@Paul1977 has roof install completed? I would have thought you would need cladding on the outside to install insulation as well as if there is a hole in the building paper and it has not been flashed properly by sparky or plumber who ran their material through it, water will come through it and as you mentioned moisture will still be an issue. I imagine that if it does rain atm, you get a bit of water come through side ways from the top of building frame as paper will have a small gap between the root and frame for water to come through so moisture and water could ruin insulation. Certainly a very good chance for you to run as many low voltage cable runs you want run to locations though yourself as well.

My builder has not advised us yet of working stopping on our build but I am expecting the call. We are 65% complete and another 2 months to go. Our house is now in a full locked state though.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Paul1977

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#2445210 24-Mar-2020 09:12

billgates:

@Paul1977 has roof install completed? I would have thought you would need cladding on the outside to install insulation as well as if there is a hole in the building paper and it has not been flashed properly by sparky or plumber who ran their material through it, water will come through it and as you mentioned moisture will still be an issue. I imagine that if it does rain atm, you get a bit of water come through side ways from the top of building frame as paper will have a small gap between the root and frame for water to come through so moisture and water could ruin insulation. Certainly a very good chance for you to run as many low voltage cable runs you want run to locations though yourself as well.

My builder has not advised us yet of working stopping on our build but I am expecting the call. We are 65% complete and another 2 months to go. Our house is now in a full locked state though.

Roof is on and penetrations flashed.

I thought I might be able to go ahead if I only didn't do anything in the stud spacing immediately adjacent to the exterior walls. So only internal walls, and at least 500mm away from and external wall?

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