Insulation Begins

The images to the right show the insulators from Creative Conservation installing the Icynene (open cell) insulation. This product will be installed in all the framed walls and ceilings. This material is sprayed on as a liquid and expands to fill the cavities.

After expanding, the material is scraped off with a long blade - using the studs as a screed. The workers use respirators while they work to avoid the fumes and particulates but there is a limited amount of off-gassing that occurs after the material is in-place.

As was mentioned in an earlier post, there are other types of insulation that will be used - depending on the nature of the wall. On the walls that were already insulated on the outside and covered by cedar, we will put 3/4" rigid board on the inside cavity.

Overtop of the interior face of the remaining brick walls on three sides, we'll use a closed-cell insulation between the old furring channels. This will help limit cold transference but also block any moisture that wicks through the brick and block. Where open cell insulation like Icynene allows some migration of moisture in the walls, closed-cell insulation is a vapor barrier and moisture will be blocked at the masonry wall.