What's a good substitute for pink insulation?

[Charlie Bernstein]

I just put a bunch of pink insulation in our rafters, but I need another four square feet to finish the job. I don't want to buy a whole lot of the stuff for just a small area.

My best ideas are a stack of corugated wrapped in a Hefty bag or wadded-up newspaper wrapped in a Hefty.

What would you use?

Thanks!

UPDATE: I solved it. See post 3.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Both Lowes and Home Depot sell smaller rolls of R19 insulation (for 2x4 walls) for just $22. Just cut it to 4 ft lengths and double/triple stack it. I run into the same problem from time to time and don't want to buy a full pack of attic insulation ($70-80) when I only need a few pieces. IMO, there are no really good substitutes for well engineered insulation. Especially if I were in Maine. (Any extra can be torn up to stuff into any small voids. Going overboard is a good thing...but you don't want to stuff it to the point of compaction. It works best when still "fluffy".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Both Lowes and Home Depot sell smaller rolls of R19 insulation (for 2x4 walls) for just $22. Just cut it to 4 ft lengths and double/triple stack it. I run into the same problem from time to time and don't want to buy a full pack of attic insulation ($70-80) when I only need a few pieces. IMO, there are no really good substitutes for well engineered insulation. Especially if I were in Maine. (Any extra can be torn up to stuff into any small voids. Going overboard is a good thing...but you don't want to stuff it to the point of compaction. It works best when still "fluffy".

Great solution!

The crisis is resolved for free, though. A friend and I are doing a prisoner swap — some of his scrap insulation for some of my scrap plywood.

So I'm there.

 

[kitniyatran]

Good for you. After doing pest control for over 42 years I was really not liking the idea of wadded up paper substituting for insulation in your attic

 

[JohnW63]

I saw stuff made from ground up denim blue jeans on a TV show. A lot nicer to work with. I've never seen it in a store.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Good for you. After doing pest control for over 42 years I was really not liking the idea of wadded up paper substituting for insulation in your attic

Lol. Now that you mention it, it does indeed sound like a prebuilt mouse nest.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Lol. Now that you mention it, it does indeed sound like a prebuilt mouse nest.

Sure does! And actually, one friend who lived for years in a New England farmhouse switched to solid panels because his cotton candy was so veined with mouse tunnels it looked like like an ant farm.

 

[RBSinTo]

Charlie,
Might I suggest you get your Schvigger to cook up a mess of Cholent for you.
After you've eaten your fill, you can use the left-overs to patch your driveway or insulate that small area in the attic.
You're welcome.
RBSinTo