Honestly, I’ve found the prep work takes longer than the actual blowing in of cellulose. Taping off fixtures, covering up anything you don’t want to be cleaning for weeks… that’s where the time goes. The first property I did, I thought I could knock it out in a weekend—nope. Ended up stretching into the next week because I underestimated cleanup and missed a few spots. If you’re methodical, though, it’s not bad. And yeah, the dust finds its way everywhere. I still find little bits months later. But the lower utility bills are a nice reminder it was worth the hassle.
the prep work takes longer than the actual blowing in of cellulose
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen folks rush the prep, only to spend double the time cleaning up later. One job, we spent almost a full day just sealing up recessed lights and wiring holes—tedious, but it paid off. The dust is relentless, though. Even with tarps everywhere, it’s like glitter... you think it’s gone, then you find some in your shoe months later. But honestly, if you’re careful up front, the actual insulation part feels quick by comparison.
The dust is relentless, though. Even with tarps everywhere, it’s like glitter... you think it’s gone, then you find some in your shoe months later.
That’s so true—no matter how much I taped and covered, I still found little puffs of cellulose in the weirdest places. Here’s how I tackled it as a first-timer:
1. I made a checklist of every possible gap—outlets, light fixtures, attic hatches. It felt overkill at first, but I caught a few spots I’d have missed otherwise.
2. Used painter’s tape and plastic sheeting to seal off doorways and vents. Not perfect, but it kept most of the mess contained.
3. For the actual blowing, I worked in short bursts and paused to check for leaks or spots where dust was escaping. Slowed me down, but cleanup was way easier.
Honestly, the prep took me two days for a small house, but the insulation itself was done in maybe four hours. If I’d rushed it, I’d probably still be vacuuming up dust. Prep feels like a slog, but it really does make the rest of the job smoother.
I hear you on the prep—honestly, I spent more time crawling around with a flashlight and a roll of tape than actually blowing in insulation. The dust still found its way into the hallway, though. I think the outlets are always sneakier than they look.
A couple things I did that helped:
- Used foam gaskets behind outlet covers. Not perfect, but it slowed down the dust migration.
- Ran a box fan in a window to create negative pressure. It pulled a lot of the airborne stuff outside instead of letting it settle everywhere.
I’m curious, did you have to move a bunch of stuff out of your attic first? Clearing out old boxes and random junk took me almost as long as the actual insulation job. Wondering if anyone’s found a way to speed that part up, or if it’s just part of the deal...
Honestly, I’ve always found the whole “move everything out first” approach a bit overrated. I usually just tarp over the boxes and furniture, then shift things as I go. It’s not perfect, but it saves a ton of time and energy—especially if you’re dealing with heavy or awkward stuff. The dust is still a pain, but I’d rather vacuum after than haul boxes up and down stairs all day. Maybe not everyone’s style, but it works for me.
