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  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Kevin,
    Talk to your cellulose installer. An experienced cellulose installer should know a few tricks to block off stud bays and joist bays where necessary to prevent cellulose from being blown where it doesn't belong. Every old house is different, so it's hard to provide general guidance without a site visit. For more information, see "How to Install Cellulose Insulation."

    In general, you don't want any cellulose insulation on the interior side of your brick foundation. (In other words, you don't want any cellulose to contact the bricks.)

    The last photo appears to depict sheathing boards. It's hard to tell what type of water-resistive barrier (WRB) shows between the cracks -- it could be asphalt felt, or it could be housewrap. If you want to figure it out, use a pocketknife (carefully) to whittle away some of the wood and feel the material with your fingers.

  2. 1869farmhouse | | #2

    There seems to be fewer topics more hotly debated than insulation. While I’m sure there are those that would disagree, I’d be hesitant to install cellulose in those walls.

    Instead, I’d either cut fire blocks from wood or create them with fire rated spray foam in the crawl space/basement. Then I’d blow in rockwool from the attic and then install the fire block of your choosing at the top.

    That is assuming you’re leaving the walls intact. If not, I’d fire block cellar, between 1st and 2nd floors (if exist), and the attic and then use rockwool batts in the cavity after air sealing. Rockwool and historic homes get along together far better than cellulose in my experience - which is almost exclusively working with historic homes.

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