Good call on mineral wool, though. It’s pricey, but sometimes peace of mind is worth it.
- True, mineral wool is solid, but I’ve had decent luck with dense-packed cellulose—if you get the install right and stay on top of moisture issues, it’s not always a nightmare.
- Venting mistakes are brutal, but sometimes it’s less about the material and more about the details.
- I’d probably still go cellulose if I started over, honestly. Cheaper and more eco-friendly, just gotta be careful.
If I had to do it all over, I’d probably lean cellulose too. I get the mineral wool hype—fire resistance, critter-proof, all that—but the cost just didn’t make sense for my budget. We went dense-pack cellulose in our walls and attic, and honestly, it’s been solid. The installer was super picky about air sealing and vapor barriers, which I think made all the difference.
I do worry about moisture sometimes, especially in the basement, but we put a lot of effort into proper venting and flashing. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it thing, but nothing in building really is, right? The eco angle was a big deal for us too—felt better using recycled material instead of more rockwool or foam.
If you’re detail-oriented and don’t mind checking up on things now and then, cellulose is hard to beat for the price. Just gotta be honest about your climate and how much time you want to spend babysitting it.
It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it thing, but nothing in building really is, right?
- Nailed it. Every insulation job I’ve seen, there’s always something to keep an eye on. Cellulose is great for the eco angle and price, but yeah, you gotta respect moisture.
- I’ve seen folks get tripped up by skipping the details—vapor barriers, taping seams, all that “boring” stuff. That’s usually where the headaches start.
- Mineral wool’s nice, but unless you’re in wildfire country or really battling critters, it’s hard to justify the extra cost.
- I’ve actually had one client swear by “babysitting” their cellulose—checks the sump pump and dehumidifier like clockwork. Not glamorous, but their basement’s bone dry.
- At the end of the day, nothing’s truly zero-maintenance. Anyone who says otherwise probably hasn’t lived with their build long enough…
Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing—people think if you pick the “right” insulation, you’re set for life. It just doesn’t work that way. Even with mineral wool, you still need to pay attention to air sealing and detailing around penetrations. I’ve had projects where a missed seam or poorly installed vapor barrier led to condensation issues down the line. Honestly, I’d rather spend extra time up front than deal with mold or rot later... Maintenance is just part of the deal, no matter what materials you choose.
Even with mineral wool, you still need to pay attention to air sealing and detailing around penetrations.
That’s the part that surprised me most during our build—how much the little details matter. I thought picking good materials would cover most of it, but nope. Out of curiosity, if you had to do it all over again, would you focus more on design or just budget extra for maintenance down the road? I keep wondering if it’s smarter to overbuild now or plan for fixes later...
