Yes, you can put plywood over blown insulation, but never directly on top of it. Blown-in insulation traps air to function; squishing it under wood destroys its R 𝑅-value (insulating power). To add a floor for storage or walking, you must build a raised framework above the insulation level.
Before laying plywood over an insulated attic floor take a look at the existing insulation. If it is batts, make sure the paper side is down. Also make sure the existing insulation isn't extending over the top of the joists. If so you may need to spread it around as compressing it will cause it to lose it's R-Value.
To cover exposed insulation, use materials that prevent fiber release and meet fire codes, such as drywall (best permanent solution), plywood, or luan boards. For temporary or specialized needs, opt for fire-retardant plastic sheeting, radiant barrier wraps, or rigid foam board to seal the area while preventing moisture buildup.
Yes, cellulose insulation significantly deters mice when compared to traditional materials like fiberglass. It acts as a physical and chemical barrier in a few key ways:
Don't Install Loft Boards Directly on Joists
This can compress the insulation and create stress on the plasterboard below. Raised Boards Are Best: Installing loft boards on raised supports or Loft Legs ensures that the insulation is left undisturbed, allowing it to work at its optimal level.
Putting boards directly onto your joists will squash your insulation and restrict airflow in your loft. Not only is this against building regulations but it can also cause damp and mould to form in your loft from restricting the airflow.
The Amish control mice through non-chemical, self-sustaining methods, relying on active trapping, natural scent repellents, and structural exclusion. Rather than using commercial poisons, they focus on physical barriers and natural predators to keep rodent populations in check.
While cellulose insulation is an eco-friendly and highly effective thermal barrier, it comes with notable drawbacks. Its primary disadvantages include susceptibility to moisture damage, settling over time, heavy weight, and dust generation during installation.
Roof rats are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. As soon as the sun goes down, roof rats start foraging for food and sometimes travel several hundred feet seeking food to eat and store. They like to hoard the food they find so that they can access it at any time.
Unfaced insulation is great for new construction, remodels, walls, floors, ceilings, basements, attics and crawlspaces. It's best used for interior wall applications that do not face the outside and also in rooms that don't need moisture control, like living rooms, dining rooms and studies.
Because spray foam can trap moisture, hide the condition of the roof, make it difficult for surveyors to inspect, which means risks like timber decay, dry rot, and not forgetting increased fire risk. If you've got it or you're buying a property that does, this is something you need to know upfront.
When nailing plywood sheets over an insulated attic floor you need to make sure there is adequate ventilation. If not you could encounter moisture problems particularly in the winter months which could cause the insulation to become wet and could eventually lead to dry rot of the structural members.
I did that, added plywood over blown insulation. It may cause some compression depending on joist size. I have some 2 X 12 joists - no problem. Also some 2 X 6 area, I added 2 X 4 on top to give 9" depth.
Drywall and plywood both provide minimal thermal insulation on their own. Plywood offers a slightly higher R-value than drywall of the same thickness, but neither material serves as a substitute for dedicated wall insulation like fiberglass or rigid foam.
The healthiest, non-toxic insulation for your home is natural sheep's wool or hemp insulation. These materials contain no chemical binders or formaldehyde, actively regulate indoor humidity to prevent mold, and do not off-gas.
Ten inches of cellulose insulation yields a total R-value between R-32 and R-38. This is because loose-fill cellulose typically provides between R-3.2 and R-3.8 per inch, though some premium dense-pack products can reach R-4.0 per inch.
The key to controlling mold growth is to control the level of moisture in a building. The superior moisture management properties of Nu-Wool Premium Cellulose Insulation actually make it a better choice than fiberglass insulation for managing moisture problems.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
Several common human foods and ingredients are highly toxic to mice. Understanding these is important for the safety of pet mice or for keeping these items out of reach in households. The most notable include:
Summary: The Amish typically have their teeth pulled out by unlicensed dentists instead of incurring the high cost of dentistry. They perceive dentures as more cost effective and easier to maintain oral health.
Mice are curious and always searching for safe, snug, and warm nesting sites. Attics filled with blown-in insulation provide an excellent option–from the mice's point of view. As long as there is a ready food source. Mice are omnivorous and will eat and chew on almost anything including wood and electrical wires.
What time of year is Insulation cheapest?
The cheapest way to board a loft would be off course to use a chipboard.