Whitewater Woman's Equipment Maintenance and Repair

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Do you know what this insulation is called? I’m concerned it’s made of that horrible stuff fiberglass that has little tiny splinters that are painful.

I don't know any brand names so I started having a bit of a look at what's needed. The cheapest and most efficient insulation is the horrible fibreglass. I've done enough mucking around with that to know that I really don't enjoy it.

You can get the fibreglass in a blanket form with foil on one side, which I suspect is what was originally used. You can also get foam rubber insulation with foil on one side, more expensive and less efficient but nicer to work with.

What is fly wire? Google says it’s an online payment system.

The fine wire mesh that we put on windows and doors to keep insects out. These days it's usually plastic but you can still get the wire stuff if you look for it.

For these things I recommend going to a proper tradie's building supplies outlet rather than a regular suburban hardware place like Home Depot. You'll find what you need more readily and pay half the price.

I recommended you get someone else to do it because of the combination of cramped and dirty working space and unpleasant working materials as well as the filth that will be on the ground from all the mice. A breathing mask will be required and it's going to be hot sweaty work. At least it's cooler there this time of year though.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Thank you.

We call what you describe as fly wire, window screens. I haven’t seen metal ones in years, but I can look.

I don’t know if there are any tradie stores here, but I can look.

Thank you.

 

[Outdated]

I don’t know if there are any tradie stores here, but I can look.

For the insect wire, if you go to a normal suburban hardware store they'll charge something like $15 for just enough to cover one door, where as if you go to a proper building materials supplier you can get a 30 mtetre roll of the stuff for $25.

And there must be suppliers right the way across your state, proper tradesmen aren't going to pay the same extortion rates that the home handyman is expected to put up with.

 

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Maybe this newer Air Cell insulation might be good enough to do the job, it would certainly be a lot nicer to work with.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Fiber glass is made from glass, air pockets give it insulation value. Foam insulation less issues.

 

[Shevek]

I'm doing a similar crawl space job myself. I don't want to pay the bribe necessary to get someone else to work in nasty conditions, and it helps to keep me limber.
Sensitivity to fiberglass varies. Mine is low, and I knew a cat who refused to give birth on anything else. You can get batts that are pre-wrapped in paper or plastic, eliminating most contact. Clothes and masks are still a good idea.
There are many grades of wire cloth. "Chicken wire" might be good. It has hexagonal holes.
You might also want to shred some rags into nesting material. It is nice to see your old shirt holding up some baby birds.