RoughDesigns

Can I Have Too Much Insulation 

It Depends:  
Retirement sewed up? Spare Income?  Care about the world's future?
If YES, then the answers is YES YOU BET!

If NO, seek government aid, and it does exist, at least in NYS.  

If SORT OF, then keep reading to see what might give you the shortest payback times.
 
You'd think not.  However, if you crunch the numbers you'll see at CURRENT energy costs, the payback times for the insulation over R 26 (6 inch) walls and R 40 (14 inches) ceiling insulation stretches into the decades.  However, energy prices can go up, usually do.  Double the cost of energy, as it has in the last 20 yrs and you could justify R40 and R60 plus.  Also, once these amounts of insulation are in, payback times on retro fitting additional insulation is over 20 years.  "Aging" is also not taken into account with insulation.  Not the physical material of the insulation, but it's settling, compacting from dampening, condenstation, humidity, maint. workers, remodelers, your kids going for the old albums in the attic.  Therefore, the extra could easily be considered due diligence to compensate for "aging".
Rule of thumb, if buidling anew, aim for R40 and R60 plus, the incremental cost is peanuts compared to the new building and you'll have fun telling everyone how your heating bill is only $300 a year. 
Existing house - Get the walls insulated from the outside.  Unless you are residing anyway, in which case install tyvek over exisiting, larsen trusses, and fill with 12 inches insualtaion before residing (you may not need sheathing under the siding, depends on insulation and siding).  In the attic, stuff it full, two feet.  If you don't have exterior foundation insulation, put in a frost proof shallow foundation, and if you are using your basement, you might want some interior wall insulation too.  Caveat:  If you are redoing a bathroom, install 1 inch foam inside, your bathroom will be MUCH warmer, this isn't a matter of economics but comfort.  DO NOT install extensive amounts of interior foam insulation.  (see foam insulation section)
Super Insulation 
   DOES NOT EQUAL
Foam - Insulation
 
Nothing is that easy.

Click Here

For a ton of information on wrapping your building in foam.

FPSF -

Experiences w/

Old House Rehab

 

It is saving me the $40,000 or so it would cost to underpin the house, install a foundation and insulate it.  Nor would this have addressed the rim joist, a major source of heat loss.

 

For those concerned with vermin and bugs, termites, etc. in the skirt.  I've had one element in 3 yrs, in a vermin and bug heavy area, with only a few spiders taking up residence.  I suspect in addtion to being pretty well sealed, it's dry and foodless.

 

We have noticed that we no longer have ants invading the kitchen every spring, and flies infesting the area outside the kitchen in the summer.  There might even be fewer mice.

 

In addition, the boxout is a great ledge for planters at a real easy height to maintain, with the plants and flowers visible from inside.

 

I'm going to try some parsely and carrots that we can't grow in the garden, the moles keep eating them.

 

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