'Nother Dumb Insulation Question

Yesterday, while I was off buying a load of insulation at one lumber yard, the contractor was doing the same thing at another. Long story short, I've got insulation running out my ears around here.

My first initial knee-jerk reaction was to take back one load, but after reading all the responses here, I got to thinking about the roof insulation:

How dumb would it be to insulate the roof beams with a layer of 3 1/2" bats and then also go back and insulate the rafters too with an additional layer of 6 1/2" rolled? (You can probably tell who bought what here) :>)

Does this make any sense, or shall I just take back one load? This is in western Nebraska where a -20 degree night is a cold night. Would this be beneficial in terms of heating cost savings?

Also, the garage is attached and the internal doorway to the house is just off our office spaces.

Thanks for all your help,

Allan

Where do you live?
How many houses a year to you build?
Do you even have a contractors license?
Have you ever read a code book for your area?
Do you know how to caculate roof venting?
What is the recomended R value for walls and roofs in your area?

I am just trying to understand where you get your information.

You can not teach a old dog new tricks!!!!! !!!
And I have seen many times some one tell me this new fangle way is better only to say years later we were wrong and we had it right the first time.

Seems I even remember people talking about installing the vapor barrier on the outside in the deep south. The heated area is most times on the outside down here.

The other question I would have is a mouse builds a new nest every year. My home would last a year with no vapor barrier. (EASY) but with moisture attacking it year after year for 30 years is my insulation going to last. Wet insulation is ruined insulation and not easly replaced.

Some times using the tryed and true method is best and leaving the expermints to others is the best advise.

Hang with me; don't hang up the phone... :>)

Yes both are the paper faced type. Glad you said something about the barrier thing.

Now, how about if I lay the first layer fiber up and the second layer fiber down? Would't this give me a total insulation factor between the two paper faces?

Follow me?

Thanks for your help; so glad I asked.

Allan

Well in my mind that would be messing up!!!!!
wouldn't the eave soffit be letting the cold air in below the roof rafters. The place to insulate is the celing joist. Now I would NOT take back the insulation if you can afford it. (guess you can you bought it) What I would do is lay the Insulation in the celing joist then come back and lay a second layer at 90 degrees to the first layer.

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry for my wrong nomemclature description; I'm just no carpenter.

I see your point, but now I'm thinking about the truss bracing. It is a 28' span across this thing and has a lot of bracing involved in the construction of the trusses.

But, do you still think it would be better to cut the short pieces where necessary (between the bracing) & run the upper layer just above the ceiling and at a 90 degree angle?

Would I have to tack this upper layer in place or could I just lay it in there? Then, just bring the lower layer up underneath it and tack between the two (joists)?

Allan