Shaving to keep cool- Cedar insulation. Wenatchee Home Inspections

It is not too uncommon in the Wenatchee Valley when looking at homes from the 1920's that I found some insulation that we will not see today. It is a cellulose insulation just not the modern version of it.

Here is some insulation from that era, Cedar wood shavings. Older homes have been known to use a variety of different materials such as newspaper, corn cobs, horse hair, rock wool and even seaweed, I have never seen it but if you live in a coastal region it may be there. And of course sometimes there is nothing at all.

Wood shavings and sawdust have a long standing use in the early days for ice houses.

There have been some more recent studies on the use of wood byproducts as insulation materials. What is old is new again.

When thinking about buying an older home you must be ready to make some choices. Many of these older homes will need updating in basic components such as insulation, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. But you will get a home that has character and charm. These homes may not be for everyone.

Wenatchee home inspections and home inspecting in general can be a fun journey into the building practices of the bygone days.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

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