Alright, let’s talk about these insulation bricks, or whatever you call ’em. Folks always yappin’ about keepin’ their houses warm and cool, so I figured I’d share what I know. Don’t expect no fancy words, I just talk plain.
First off, you gotta figure out what kind of walls you got. Some are brick, some ain’t. If it’s brick, well, that’s a whole different story than them other walls. With brick, you gotta stick some wood pieces, they call ’em studs I think, to the wall. But before you do that, you gotta put somethin’ to stop the wetness from comin’ in. Damp-proof stuff, they call it. Sounds fancy, but it’s just somethin’ to keep the water out, ya know?
Now, once you got them wood pieces on, you slap on this insulation board stuff. It’s like a big ol’ sandwich, the wall, the wood, and then this board. You gotta use them screw things, or nails, whatever you got, to hold it tight. Then, you smooth it all out with somethin’ they call plaster. Makes it look nice and purdy, I guess.
But if you ain’t got brick walls, it’s a bit different. They got this stuff called “dot and dab,” sounds like somethin’ my grandkids would say, ha! Anyways, it’s like glue, I reckon. You put blobs of it on the wall and stick the insulation board right on. No need for them wood pieces. Faster, I guess, but I dunno, seems kinda flimsy to me.
- For brick walls: Wood pieces, damp-proof stuff, insulation board, screws or nails, plaster.
- For other walls: That dot and dab glue stuff and insulation board.
No matter which way you do it, you gotta make sure that insulation stuff is snug. Like tuckin’ a baby in bed, ya know? Gotta push it in tight so no air gets through. Otherwise, what’s the point, right? You want that heat stayin’ in during the winter and the cool stayin’ in during the summer.
I seen some folks puttin’ this insulation stuff around their lights too, them ones in the ceiling. Makes sense, I guess, heat goes up, right? Gotta trap it all in. And don’t forget the attic, that’s a big one. Heat loves to sneak out through the roof. So you gotta stuff that insulation up there too. Crawl around on your hands and knees, it ain’t fun, but it gotta be done.
Some folks say you gotta hire them fancy roofin’ fellas to do all this. But I say, if you got a strong back and a little bit of sense, you can do it yourself. Save yourself a few pennies, ya know? Money don’t grow on trees, that’s for sure.
Now, there’s different kinds of this insulation stuff too. Some are like fluffy blankets, they call ’em batt and roll. Good for stuffin’ in between them wood pieces in the walls. Others are like boards, the ones we talked about earlier. You just gotta pick what works best for your walls and where you’re puttin’ it. It ain’t rocket science, just gotta use your head a little.
Insulation projects can be a pain in the neck, that’s for sure. But it’s worth it in the long run. Keeps your house comfy and saves you money on them heatin’ and coolin’ bills. And that’s somethin’ we can all appreciate, ain’t it? So go on, get yourself some insulation bricks, or boards, or whatever they call ’em, and get to work. Your house and your wallet will thank ya.
Remember to measure things twice and cut once, just like my old man used to say. And if you’re not sure about somethin’, ask somebody who knows. No shame in that. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when you’re workin’ up high or with tools. Don’t want nobody fallin’ off a ladder or hammerin’ their thumb now. Be careful, be smart, and get that house insulated. That’s all I gotta say about that.
