Blown-in cellulose is one of those things that sounds genius until you’re halfway through and wondering if you just paid to fill your walls with future problems. I’ve done it on a couple flips—one time from the exterior, drilling those little holes between the studs and patching ’em up after. Honestly, it’s not the worst, but you’re right about the gamble part.
In my experience, it does settle a bit, especially if you don’t pack it in right or if there’s any weirdness in the wall cavities (old knob and tube wiring, random critter nests… you know how old houses are). I haven’t run into major moisture issues myself, but I’m pretty religious about making sure there’s no existing leaks or damp spots before starting. If your exterior paint or siding isn’t in great shape, though, I’d be a little nervous—cellulose loves to soak up water if given the chance.
Funny thing is, I actually like the blown-in stuff better than batt insulation for these old places. You don’t have to rip out all that beautiful trim or mess with plaster dust everywhere. Still, it’s not a magic bullet. If you’re thinking about turning an attic or garage into a bedroom, insulation is only half the battle—ventilation, egress windows, and heating/cooling always end up being way more work than people expect.
If you go this route, just brace yourself for some surprises once you open up those walls. Old houses are like mystery boxes... sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you find a squirrel skeleton and a 1920s newspaper stuffed behind the lath. Keeps things interesting, at least.
Attics and garages are always tempting for extra bedrooms, but I’ve learned the hard way that insulation is just the tip of the iceberg. Did a garage conversion last year—thought blown-in cellulose would be a quick win, but then came the HVAC headaches, weird ceiling slopes, and figuring out egress. Ended up spending more on ductwork and windows than insulation by a mile. If you’re not ready for some curveballs, it’s easy to blow past your budget fast.
I hear you on the curveballs. We tried turning our attic into a guest room a few years back—thought it’d be a charming hideaway, but man, those old rafters and weird angles made everything a puzzle. Ended up having to custom order windows just to meet code. Still, there’s something special about making use of those quirky spaces, even if it takes more time (and cash) than you expect. If you love the character, sometimes it’s worth the hassle... but definitely not a “quick win.”
That sounds all too familiar—those oddball angles and ancient framing can really throw a wrench in even the best-laid plans. When I tackled our attic, I thought it’d be a straightforward insulation and drywall job, but then I ran into knob-and-tube wiring hiding behind every other rafter. Ended up having to reroute half the electrical just to get things up to code. And don’t get me started on trying to fit modern egress windows into 1920s framing...
Still, there’s something satisfying about working with what you’ve got, quirks and all. I totally agree, it’s not a quick win, but if you’re into the history and character of these spaces, it’s worth the extra effort. Sometimes the “puzzle” is half the fun—at least in hindsight, once you’re not knee-deep in insulation dust. Just gotta go in expecting surprises (and budget padding for those custom orders).
Sometimes the “puzzle” is half the fun—at least in hindsight, once you’re not knee-deep in insulation dust.
Ha, that’s the truth. I swear, every time I think I’ve seen it all, some weird old house quirk pops up. Last time I tried to turn a garage into a bedroom, I found out the slab wasn’t even level—like, not even close. Ended up spending more time shimming and leveling than anything else.
I get what you mean about the satisfaction, though. There’s something cool about making an awkward space actually work for modern life. Still, sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the hassle when you could just build an addition or go for a prefab shed. Guess it depends on how much you like a challenge... and how much you hate drywall dust.
Anyone else ever regret starting one of these projects halfway through? Or is that just me?
