Totally agree about the “boring” stuff making all the difference. I learned that lesson with my own garage conversion—spent extra on spray foam insulation and proper drainage, and honestly, it’s the only reason the place is comfortable year-round. My neighbor skipped that and now has condensation issues every winter. It’s wild how fast costs add up before you even get to the fun finishes, but cutting corners behind the walls just isn’t worth it. I’d rather live with basic tile than rip everything open for a fix later.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think some of the “boring” stuff can be overhyped by contractors. Like, spray foam is great, but I went with dense-pack cellulose in my last build and it’s been solid—way cheaper too. Sometimes it’s about finding that balance between not cutting corners and not getting upsold on every upgrade. Not everything behind the walls needs to be top shelf if your climate isn’t extreme.
Couldn’t agree more about contractors hyping up the “latest and greatest.” I’ve got 1920s walls stuffed with who-knows-what, and honestly, as long as there aren’t icicles forming inside, I’m happy. Dense-pack cellulose is underrated—plus, it doesn’t make your house smell like a chemical plant. Sometimes I think they just want us to spend more on stuff we’ll never see again once the drywall goes up. If it keeps the drafts out and doesn’t break the bank, I call that a win.
I get where you're coming from—no need to chase every new product, especially if it’s hidden behind drywall. But I do think there’s a place for some of the modern stuff, at least sometimes. I used to be all about cellulose too, until I tried sheep’s wool insulation on a small project. Pricey, yeah, but crazy good at managing moisture and doesn’t settle over time. My old place had dense-pack cellulose and it worked, but over a decade or so it did sag a bit in the walls. Not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind.
And about those “who-knows-what” 1920s walls... sometimes the old materials are a mixed bag. I've found all kinds of weird things in demo—horsehair, newspapers, even sawdust. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not so much. I guess for me, if I can afford to step up for better comfort and air quality, I’ll splurge once and forget about it. But yeah, totally agree—nobody needs to drop serious cash just for a fancy label.
- Totally get the urge to splurge on better materials if you can swing it.
- I’ve seen the sagging with cellulose too—kinda annoying but not the end of the world.
- Old wall surprises are wild... once found a random shoe stuffed in mine.
- If you’re building new, I’d say pick your battles. Spend where it matters for comfort, skip the hype where you can.
- It’s your space, your call. No shame in going basic if the budget’s tight.
