Our goal is to get drywall up by the end of Round 2 with Calderwood Cottage. Now that we have plumbing, HVAC and electrical taken care of, so we can finally insulate. We are doing spray foam insulation. The ceilings are “closed cell” which is more expensive but the only way for us to take care of “all the birds with one stone” (so to speak).
We have a cathedral ceiling with short rafters and need the highest R-value per inch of material. Plus we had to use what would work with our specific roof situation. There are a lot of factors to consider and every situation is different (and every company will tell you different things) so make sure YOU do your homework and know exactly what YOU need before you start getting quotes.
We opted to go ahead and have the walls sprayed too (with open cell). Our wall studs are not even close to be evenly spaced so it would have been a huge chore to make batt insulation work. It ended up not even costing us much more to pay them to do the walls with spray foam than it would have for us to buy and install the batt insulation ourselves.
So heck yeah we hired that out! One less thing for us to do in our quickly diminishing timeline!
After a technician sprays the foam onto the surface, the foam swells pretty quickly. 
Then they cut off the excess, so the insulation is flush with the studs.
The “clean up” is a messy process. So glad I didn’t have to do it!
All Julie and I had to do was check in every so often to see the progress! Of course, while the insulation was being done on the inside, we were outside tearing out the concrete steps and bricking in the windows in the cellar that were previously covered with scraps of rotted wood and other important things (I’m sure they were important. I can’t remember that far back. “This morning” is about as far back as my long term memory can reach). We have been working so hard!
It took them a total of 3 days to do all the walls, all the ceilings, cut and clean up. Was supposed to take 2 but their machine broke on day 2 and they had to bring a different trailer the next day to finish up. It was pretty exciting to see it at this point. The house is quieter and warmer. Which is nice because it’s still really cold. What’s up with that?
Round 2 is quickly coming to an end and it’s clear we aren’t going to make it to drywall. We knew the only way it would happen is if every player in our orchestra played their part without a glitch. Almost every part of the “symphony” had a problem so we’re just going to have to wait until Round 3 to get drywall up. Still, we got a LOT accomplished in this 3 1/2 week Round with our little, old, Calderwood Cottage.
And, our break between now and Round 3 is literally only 9 days long. So I’ll see you again soon with more!
This time it’s going to be all the fun stuff and I CAN’T WAIT!!!!
Laura says
What do they use to cut the foam flush with the studs?
Loving the progress. It’s amazing how quickly you and Julie get things done.
Sandra says
It’s so much faster with two. And it’s so much more fun!
Carla from Kansas says
Wow looks like a different house already. You guys rock.
Sandra says
Agreed. It doesn’t even look like the same house at all. Except on the outside. LOL
Carla from Kansas says
looks like a different house
HowtoBuildit says
I am loving the progress of this! I’m getting more excited every day to see the finished product!
Sandra says
It’s to the point where every day it’s exciting to see the transformation. Getting reallllly exciting!
Sarah says
Wow, it is starting to look more finished with just the insulation! I can not even imagine how hard you guys have been working. How fun to spend that time with your sister. I have a sister who is super talented and we would love to buy a house and flip it, but we both are in the stages with little kids. Maybe down the road… Can’t wait to see Round 3, drywall always makes such a huge difference!
Sandra says
Absolutely. Julie and I both just reached the stage where our kids (both have only child daughters) are starting their college years and starting to be out on their own. I do wish I could wiggle my nose and have my own house be completed quickly though. Working a month here and a month there…
Sandra says
Just getting the insulation up made it feel so much cleaner and brighter. CAN’T WAIT for drywall and paint! (And floors and lights and cabinets…)
Maureen says
Sandra,
With the next up coming round of work, are you able to bring in some kind of space heater to at least make working more comfortable?
Donna M says
It’s interesting that you put in foam insulation. In my research, the closed cell foam insulation has a higher R-value than the open cell. Yes, it is a bit more expensive. Was cost the main reason you opted for the open cell for the walls? I have a room above our garage that I’m hoping that one day will be a studio. I did the wiring and the next step is having the foam insulation done.
Leslie says
You’re in Knoxville! Hi, neighbor!
I stumbled across you on YouTube while I was looking at various videos on crown molding. (Ironically, I watched your Festool drywall sanding video instead of your crown molding vids. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
Since we are in the same area, I’d love to know who your vendors and trades are. We are three years into a six month remodel of our 1945 money pit. I am uniquely gifted at hiring dishonest and incompetent tradespeople, so we have defaulted to doing much of the work ourselves.
I would especially love to know the name of your spray foam company. All my friends have been talked into open cell for their rafters, and the lack of a vapor barrier seems like a really, really bad idea in our Tennessee humidity.
Sandra says
Email me.
Nikki says
I’m in Knoxville too!!
I bought 10 acres of land with a house that’s over 100 years old. Since it was just me working on it with a smaller budget I decided to go back to work And hire out the building stuff. (I work as a pipeline inspector)
The drywall is being finished and I’ll be back home in a month to build custom cabinets in the laundry room, closets, etc. And I was watching your video on the master closet and told my hubby that I found a new best friend somewhere near Knoxville. He said “does she know this yet?” Lol
I’m so in love with your blog and it makes me so jealous that I’m working instead of usingy shop to build stuff this summer.
Oh well, soon enough I’ll be back in my shop complaining about woodcrafts hours.