jamiehamy Posted October 29, 2016 Posted October 29, 2016 Hi everyone, I need to use about 1m3 of lose fill insulation around a steel beam (Warmcell/Thermofloc etc) but can't find anywhere to buy it without paying more for the postage than the material! Does anyone know where I might be able to source this near Glasgow or if there is somewhere online that will sell it without charging a fortune for postage? JEwsons can't source it for me which is frustrating! Thanks, Jamie
joe90 Posted October 29, 2016 Posted October 29, 2016 On the grand designs programme I was intrigued by the chap that had a machine for turning EPS waste ( packaging) into insulation beads, shredder?, anyone near you do that?
tonyshouse Posted October 29, 2016 Posted October 29, 2016 Collect polystyrene and put it through a garden shredder.
jamiehamy Posted October 29, 2016 Author Posted October 29, 2016 Guys! What an idea! We only happen to have 4 Bulk Bags full of Xps offcuts from the icf walls. Do you think that's a goer? Would solve two problems at once and save us a wee bit. 1
joe90 Posted October 29, 2016 Posted October 29, 2016 Jamie, I suggest you take up the mantle and give it a go, please report back and let us know if it went well?
PeterW Posted October 29, 2016 Posted October 29, 2016 .... and if it doesn't, just explain to the Neighbours that it was early snow ...!
tonyshouse Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 Garden vac is useful too, beware of the dreaded static electricity do I get commission?
Barney12 Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 On 29/10/2016 at 16:56, jamiehamy said: Guys! What an idea! We only happen to have 4 Bulk Bags full of Xps offcuts from the icf walls. Do you think that's a goer? Would solve two problems at once and save us a wee bit. Expand I hate to be a kill joy but I'm really not convinced eps is going to go through a garden shredder. Most the ones I've seen have a relatively narrow neck (to stop your hand going in) and shred using a sort of crushing corkscrew. It will just squash the eps rather than shred it and most likely block very quickly. But hey.....I love being proved wrong
jack Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 Must it be loose? Could you use the EPS in solid pieces and carve some rough channels to fit around the beam? Or is it already in place and enclosed, so loose fill definitely required? If so, perhaps consider bean bag refills? That's loose polystyrene beads.
Barney12 Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 Ta Da ......... http://www.papercrete.com/images/EPSCreteAndMixer.pdf
Ferdinand Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Now there is something to work put how to do :-) I would bet that you need more packaging than you expect for one cubic metre. Perhaps it would need something more like a flail mechanism / paper shredder or an industrial level wood chipper. What would the particle size have to be for effective insulation? I can see that taking it down to a couple of mm would be difficult, but would 10mm particles be materially worse? Is there a fire risk due to an absence of retardants in packaging? I remember that the mechanism on the GD programme was well concealed, though. Person who made their own insulating sheets (not unfortunately from loose beads) https://greenpassivesolar.com/2012/11/how-styrofoam-can-be-recycled/ Ferdinand Edited October 30, 2016 by Ferdinand
Bitpipe Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 I did all of our EPS cutting (for the external basement wall insulation) inside the basement box with a small electric chainsaw - it generated loads of waste, was like a mini snow globe when the wind got in there. Was a messy job to clean up also, especially as it became a mix of EPS beads, rain water, mud and other building cr@p. So, if you want to create some DIY EPS beads, go take a chainsaw to your insulation in a confined space Leads me to wonder what to do with the 6 200mm thick sheets of EPS 70 I have left - will probably stick them on Gumtree or free cycle..
jamiehamy Posted October 30, 2016 Author Posted October 30, 2016 It seemed to work on the XPS, chippings rather than beads. Slow going but steady progress...! Jack, it has to be loose fill at there is only 100mm access to the front of the beam from the top.... Plus joists resting every 600mm.
Stones Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 Just a thought, but could you 'adapt' the disposable nozzle/applicator supplied with cans of expanding foam by adding on a length of flexible pipe (I'm thinking the small diameter pipe used in home brewing) http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/syphon-kit.html to let you use expanding foam?
jamiehamy Posted October 30, 2016 Author Posted October 30, 2016 I was actually wondering if I could spray in a weakish PVA solution to bind it all together and fill the gaps - although it compacts down pretty well as it is. Ideally I would put these chippings through an industrial food blender to get it down to tiny pieces, but realistically that ain't gonna happen!. Hmm! I actually need rid of the stuff anyway, and need loose fill insulation. This is just the outer layer of the beam - inside is PIR which acts as a VCL as well. Might just fill it all in with this and be done.
tonyshouse Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 It is a good idea to spray the beads with PVA to stick them together, yes.
Ferdinand Posted October 30, 2016 Posted October 30, 2016 I would say find your stockist to collect then put an ad on eg anyvan. F
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