How Long Does It Really Take To Insulate A House?

That’s the thing - sometimes it feels like you’re choosing between two headaches. I’ve always wondered if anyone’s had luck with dense-pack cellulose in old walls, or if settling is just inevitable over time. Does spray foam actually solve that, or does it bring its own set of problems?

Dense-pack cellulose is like that friend who promises to help you move, but then disappears halfway through. It works pretty well at first, but yeah, settling can happen, especially in old, uneven walls. I tried it in my 1920s place - helped a lot with drafts, but after a few years, I could feel cold spots creeping back in. Spray foam’s a whole different animal. It won’t settle, but it can get messy and if you ever want to run new wires or fix something inside the wall, good luck. Plus, if you don’t get the closed-cell stuff installed right, you might end up with weird smells or moisture issues. It’s kind of a pick-your-poison situation, honestly.

I get what you’re saying about dense-pack cellulose settling, but I’ve had a different experience in a couple of flips. If it’s installed right - like, really packed in there - it doesn’t settle much, even in older homes. The trick is making sure whoever’s blowing it in takes their time and hits every cavity.

“Spray foam’s a whole different animal. It won’t settle, but it can get messy and if you ever want to run new wires or fix something inside the wall, good luck.”

That’s spot on. I’ve had to cut through spray foam to fish new wiring and it’s a pain. Sometimes, for old houses where you might need to update stuff later, I lean toward mineral wool batts. Not as airtight as foam, but way easier to work with down the road. Just my two cents - there’s no perfect answer, but there are ways to make each option work better depending on your priorities.

I hear you on the mineral wool - I've used it in my last place and honestly, it was way less hassle than dealing with foam. I’m always watching the budget, so I went with batts and did most of it myself. Took a couple weekends for a small house, but it was doable. Anyone else find cellulose gets everywhere during install? I swear I was vacuuming up dust for weeks... but at least it was cheap and did the job. Curious if anyone’s found a method that’s both affordable and not a total mess?

“I swear I was vacuuming up dust for weeks... but at least it was cheap and did the job.”

That’s the story of cellulose, isn’t it? I did my attic with it last winter - thought I’d sealed everything, but the dust still found its way into every nook. On the plus side, it really did help with drafts in my 1920s place. If you ever try dense-pack cellulose, it’s a bit less messy, but you need the right blower. Still, nothing’s ever truly “clean” with old houses...