That’s a good point about not going overboard—seen too many folks seal every crack and then get mold behind the walls. Out of curiosity, when you did your bungalow, did you use blown-in insulation or batts? I’ve found the method can really change both the timeline and how much you have to worry about ventilation. Some of the spray foam products are super quick, but they’re definitely less forgiving if you mess up airflow... anyone else notice that?
Honestly, I totally get what you mean about spray foam being less forgiving.
I went with batts in my place—took longer, but I felt way more in control of where everything was going. Plus, it was easier on my wallet. Ventilation’s a pain either way, but at least with batts you can adjust as you go if you spot a problem.“Some of the spray foam products are super quick, but they’re definitely less forgiving if you mess up airflow...”
I hear you on the control factor with batts. There’s something reassuring about being able to see exactly where the insulation’s going, especially around tricky spots like outlets or odd framing. Spray foam can be a bit of a gamble if you’re not used to it—one misstep and you’re scraping hardened foam for hours. Batts might take longer, but that flexibility to tweak things as you go is worth it for peace of mind. Plus, if you ever need to run new wiring or fix something behind the wall, batts are way less of a headache to deal with.
Yeah, I totally get that—batts are kind of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, especially in those weird corners or around old knob-and-tube wiring (don’t ask me how many times I’ve found that surprise). I once tried spray foam in my own place and let’s just say I spent more time cleaning my hands than actually insulating. Batts might not be the fastest, but when you’re trying to keep things eco-friendly and maybe salvage some old woodwork, the slower pace isn’t so bad. Plus, my cat loves hiding in the leftover scraps... not sure that’s a selling point, but hey.
I totally relate to the “jigsaw puzzle” feeling with batts—especially in older houses where nothing is square. When I did my attic, I thought it’d be a weekend job, but it ended up taking almost a week because every bay was a different width and there were random pipes everywhere. I tried to be methodical: measure, cut, fit, repeat... but it’s slow going if you want it snug. I did consider spray foam too, but the mess (and the fumes) put me off. Batts are definitely more forgiving if you need to pull something out and redo it. And yeah, my dog kept stealing scraps—guess pets just love insulation for some reason.
