Installing Loose Fill Insulation without a Blower

  • 3-5 hours
  • Beginner
  • 200-400
What You'll Need
Loose fill insulation
Respirator
Protective gloves
Long pants
Long sleeve shirt
Protective glasses
Shovel
Rake
What You'll Need
Loose fill insulation
Respirator
Protective gloves
Long pants
Long sleeve shirt
Protective glasses
Shovel
Rake

Loose fill insulation is a great product that is used for various insulation projects around the home. Typical fiberglass insulation is pink and comes in large rolls that you have to roll out and cut to fit but loose fill insulation is in clumps. Loose fill insulation is made out of the same materials that fiberglass insulation is made out of. Loose fill insulation is installed using a blower, but they can cost a lot of money to rent, so you really do not need one. The following article will show you how to use loose fill insulation without having to use a blower.

Keep in mind before you start that insulation materials often irritate the skin and are toxic if you get them into your body, so you'll need to wear safety clothing for this DIY task.

Step 1 - Purchasing the Loose Fill Insulation

Buying insulation is not always an easy thing to do because you need to take all kinds of measurements and need to cut and trim to make it work. Loose fill insulation is much simpler than that because it is clumps and is easily placed. This means that it is easy to install and no measuring is required. It is always good to be stuck with more than you need as you can always return or store unopened bags of loose fill insulation. The generic loose fill insulation you will find is made from fiberglass, but you can find others made from metal and stone.

Step 2 - Placing the Loose Fill Insulation

You can serve up the loose fill insulation directly from the bag you bought it in. Make sure you are wearing all of your protective equipment. Loose fill insulation can be very itchy as well as cause breathing difficulties. Use the shovel as much as possible so you do not have to actually touch the loose fill insulation. This is even important if you are using gloves as fiberglass will always find a way to get inside your clothing and the gloves. When you begin to place the loose fill insulation you should start at the back of the space and work from side to side before moving from back to front. Use the shovel and begin spreading the loose fill insulation around the space. Do not worry about small piles that may develop as you do this. The trick here is to just get the loose fill insulation out of the bags and into the area.

Step 3 - Evening Out Loose Fill Insulation

Clumps of loose fill insulation will not make a very good barrier between the elements. This step is all about making sure the loose fill insulation is properly distributed. For this you'll make use of the rake. Use the teeth of the rake to spread the loose fill insulation over the floor and the reverse end to flatten it down and spread it out further. Once the initial layer has be placed and spread out you will be able to tell where you will need extra loose fill insulation. You will be able to add it in the same manner as you did in the previous step.