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What
Kind of Insulation Should You Buy?
Some types
of insulation require professional installation and then there
are others that you can install yourself. Things to keep in
mind when buying insulation are the following: their R-values,
and the thickness needed. The thicker an insulation, the higher
the R-value.
Blankets,
in batt or roll form, are flexible products made from mineral
fibres. Continuous rolls can be hand cut and trimmed to fit.
Blown-in
loose fill insulation includes loose fibres or fibre pellets
that are blown into building cavities or attics using special
pneumatic equipment. The blown in material can provide additional
resistance to air infiltration if the insulation is sufficiently
dense.
Rigid insulation,
made from fibrous materials or plastic foams is pressed or extruded
into board-like forms and molded pipe coverings. Rigid insulation
provides thermal and acoustical insulation, strength with low
weight, and coverage with few heat loss paths.
Reflective
Insulation systems, fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety
of backings. The resistance to heat flow will depend on the
flow of direction. This type of insulation is most effective
in reducing downward heat flow.
Repairing
Small Plaster Cracks and Holes
- Start
by removing loose plaster with a screwdriver or knife. This
will clean the crack, making it wider at the bottom than on
the surface. This allows the new plaster to stick better.
- Remove
all loose plaster dust with a brush or damp cloth.
- Fill
the crack with ready mix spackling compound or patching plaster
using a criss-cross motion to work it in.
- With
a 6 inch wide putty knife feather the edges of the patch,
about 2 inches on each side of the crack, making it less visible.
- After
it is dry, sand lightly and paint.
Repairing
Large Plaster Cracks
- Clean
off loose plaster. Moisten.
- Fill
the crack with patching plaster and press the perforated tape
into wet plaster with a wide putty knife.
- Squeeze
out any excess plaster, making sure there are no lumps on
the wall.
- Let it
dry. Sand lightly and paint. Using a primer properly will
make the paint stick better.
Repairing
Larger Holes in Plaster Walls using Wallboard
Some large
holes in plaster require wallboard.
- Mark
a rectangle on the wall including the hole.
- With
a knife or key hole saw, cut out the rectangle, without breaking
it.
- On a
scrap piece of plaster-board, copy the section of wall.
- Mark
a 2 inch wide around the section of the wall.
- Remove
the paper on one side and the plaster from the 2 inch frame
around the patch.
- The 2
inch frame of paper will now stick out like an ear all around
which will help to
- hold
the patch in place.
- Spread
patching plaster around the edge of the hole on all sides
and both under the
- flap
and around the edge of the patch. Put the patch in the hole
and press the paper
- ears
into the plaster and hold it while it sets.
- Sand
and lightly paint.
Identifying
Bearing Walls
To
identify a bearing wall, check out the exposed joists or rafters
in the attic or basement. If they run parallel to the wall in
question, it is not a bearing wall. If the joists are perpendicular
to the wall, it almost certainly is a bearing wall.
Ladder
Safety
Always
use caution when working on a ladder. Use fiberglass ladders
when working around power lines or performing electrical repairs.
If an extension ladder is being used, add inexpensive ladder
stabilizers to ensure the ladder doesn’t rock from side to side.
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