Did you folks use Rockwool for larger gaps in your firestop/draftstop areas or did batt insulation suffice? I suppose it may vary by county, but any information would be helpful. I guess I should ask. If you used Rockwool, where can I purchase some?

Out here in Sterling, the couple of times I've checked, I've seen it at the Lowes and not the HD. Doesn't meant it's not there though. I've noticed that the Cascades HD seems to be improving stock.

I'm sure BigMouth knows. He knows everything!

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the reply. My local Lowes didn't have it. In fact they looked at me funny, which kind of leads me to believe batt insulation is probably acceptable by the county inspectors. I guess I will go with that and see if I get through the pre-drywall inspection.

Thanks again for the reply!

You do know what else rockwool is used for? Well so i hear..

What would you guys do without me????

I bought 4 inch roxul "safe" batts (very dense) at Capital building supply in Vienna. They also carry the safe and sound batts and may have other Roxul products (never asked).

They also have the acoustical caulk frequently described here and usually have a few tubes on display on the shelf to the right side of the front door as you enter.

They take Credit cards. After you order at the typical walk up desk, you step outside and hand your order to one of the available workers as they come by. They will bring your purchase to your vehicle.

What ever you do don't try to fit a 4 inch safe batt into a 3 1/2 inch space. I was curious and gave it a try. I stood on a 2x2 ft square of the 4 inch Safe batts and could not get a similiarly sized piece of plywood to bottom on 2 2x4's I layed on the sides of the Roxul. It cuts very easily with a butchers knife. Like slicing a loaf of bread.

As for firestop inspection my guy was happy with tightly packed fiberglass. (Fairfax county and a few years back)

OK, NO. VA. Brothers,

Where is the best place to by Bruce Pre-finished oak solid wood flooring? Anybody got a pneumatic Flooring nailer to lend/rent? Going to do another room to match what the builder did.

Just another Honey Do item on my list.

Jeff,

How are you going get that done with all the time you spend researching stuff for us Forum users? :)

Randy,
You sound just like my wife.

:D

You amaze me with your ubiquitous presence here.

Ha! I have three college degrees and I still had to look that one up to see what you meant.

Ha! I have three college degrees and I still had to look that one up to see what you meant.


lol. I have a 2 yr. degree and knew what he meant. Oh well. My wife is smarter than I am... i'm used to feeling left behind. lol.

I called the (PW) county donkeys and asked. They said glass or wool batt would be fine. I appreciate the replies and look forward to starting my build thread soon. Based on the description of how the building supply operates, it sounds like you may end up with crack in you insulation instead of wool. Oh and you "guys" take your dresses off, put some pants on. :D

Oh and you "guys" take your dresses off, put some pants on. :D

As soon as I finish crocheting this doily I'm working on I'll do that. If I don't get 6 done today I don't get any supper.

http://www.lartisana.com/pix/DLY_240H.jpg

mhmmm

yep

mhmm... yep... I'm feelin ya dog...

http://www.llij.net/me/frames/chris-jill-drag.jpg

BIG -

STOP! You're killing me!

Hey! Are those acoustically transparent? Are they maybe grill covers or something? I'l lbet you could sell them!

Tom

In Loudoun Co., the inspector was fine w/ Roxul as well.

What would you guys do without me????

I bought 4 inch roxul "safe" batts (very dense) at Capital building supply in Vienna. They also carry the safe and sound batts and may have other Roxul products (never asked).

They also have the acoustical caulk frequently described here and usually have a few tubes on display on the shelf to the right side of the front door as you enter.

They take Credit cards. After you order at the typical walk up desk, you step outside and hand your order to one of the available workers as they come by. They will bring your purchase to your vehicle.

What ever you do don't try to fit a 4 inch safe batt into a 3 1/2 inch space. I was curious and gave it a try. I stood on a 2x2 ft square of the 4 inch Safe batts and could not get a similiarly sized piece of plywood to bottom on 2 2x4's I layed on the sides of the Roxul. It cuts very easily with a butchers knife. Like slicing a loaf of bread.

As for firestop inspection my guy was happy with tightly packed fiberglass. (Fairfax county and a few years back)

Happen to remember how much this stuff ran you, Big?

Happen to remember how much this stuff ran you, Big?


From what I remember about $1.25sq ft. for the 4 inch safe batts.

It comes in pack of 3 2x4 ft pieces bagged. (24sq ft)

They shrink wrap 4 bags into a "bundle"

a bundle is 2x4x4 ft it does not compress.

If you buy a bundle they bring it out to your vehicle on a fork lift.

I never priced the safe and sound batts.

I thought I'd pop in. I'm new to the area and am hunting for a theater of my own (one that's attached to a kitchen and bedrooms, etc.). I don't know the area well, but thought I'd say hi.

Welcome!

Loudoun Co.
Inspector recommended Rock Wool (2'x4')
Tart Lumber (28 and Waxpool) go to the Contractor Supply building on the left

I hope this doesn't mean that the LO.CO inspectors will start requiring rock wool.

It's starting to sound like rock wool would defeat the purpose of decoupling the room. My idea was to take standard fiberglass, cut it to maybe 4" strips and just run it around the entire room at the top of the stud wall between the wall and the poured concrete. This would close off the space between the wall, the concrete and the cieling joists yet should not defeat the decoupling.

Anyone?

Tom

I hope this doesn't mean that the LO.CO inspectors will start requiring rock wool.

It's starting to sound like rock wool would defeat the purpose of decoupling the room. My idea was to take standard fiberglass, cut it to maybe 4" strips and just run it around the entire room at the top of the stud wall between the wall and the poured concrete. This would close off the space between the wall, the concrete and the cieling joists yet should not defeat the decoupling.

Anyone?

Tom

I used the Roxul Safe-n-Sound quiet bats. They aren't the rigid ones, and definitely decouple the room.

Steve -

Do you mean that I SHOULD use the rock wool AND decouple the room? The room is already decoupled, I just don't want to defeat that by adding somthing that might pass vibration through if this stuff is as dense as BigMouth indicates.

Tom

It's what I did, and I'm happy with the result.

Decouple the room to attentuate acoustic transfer via the framing/sturctural members.

Insulate the voids to attenuate the transfer via athe spaces inbetween the surfaces (which act like giant diapraghms...)

Steve -

Do you mean that I SHOULD use the rock wool AND decouple the room? The room is already decoupled, I just don't want to defeat that by adding somthing that might pass vibration through if this stuff is as dense as BigMouth indicates.

Tom

I think the safe and sound batts are about the same as the fiberglass insulation in terms of rigidity. I was using the really dense stuff.

OK, thanks guys. I can relax now. Now to just finish up framing the stupid stairs.

Tom

I know you checked PW county, but if you are actually in the City of Manassas you may want to talk to an actually inspector for the City and get his name.

The only firestop they would take from me was firestop caulking or wood. insulation was not an acceptable answer. I "failed" my close-in inspection 3 times and had to nail in more wood and caulk more spaces then I care to remember.

I got my Ultratouch from Capitol Building supply. They have stores/warehouses in various places. If you call and they have they stuff in one place that is not near your house they will move it to the one closer to you for free. I had to do that. There is a Capitol Building Supply in Manassas for you other PW people.

I actually do reside in PW :eek:. I used 1/2 gypsum for the perimeter firestop material and 3/8 OSB for draftstop at the ends of the A/C trunk soffit. I used firestop caulk for any wiring holes that go up through the perimeter firestop. I used regular fiberglass batt to fill gaps such as where the bulk of the wiring comes down into the electrical box as well as small gaps in the soffit ends. These all are supposed to meet code for PW. The inspection is scheduled for tommorow, so I will find out for sure.

Thanks for the heads up! and thanks again for all of the responses. I very much appreciate and value your input!