Securing soffit baffles in existing homes

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Permalink Reply by Bud Poll on September 18, 2011 at 2:18pm

I'm sure there are different tricks and this is not my specialty, but when needed I use an electric stapler so I can position it, fire and not damage the foam.  The hammer staplers run out of room quickly and do cut the foam.  In extremely tight places I have stapled to the end I can reach and stuffed some batt insulation into the lower area to hold the baffle in place.  The batt insulation also blocks any blown-in insulation from reaching the soffits.  If I were to do one today, I would definitely not use fiberglass as the batt, but mineral wool such as Roxul.  Much denser and will block wind washing from the soffits.

 

Bud

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Permalink Reply by Ed Ballard on September 18, 2011 at 2:58pm

Bud, Thanks for the suggestion. This is always a troublesome area to work in to begin with.

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Sean Lintow Sr on September 18, 2011 at 4:24pm

You might consider switching to a diffrent type of baffle depending on the job - generally an electric stapler and / or foam - I would love to find an electric cap stapler but haven't seen one yet / haven't needed to look that hard for one yet

I am not a big fan of batts as they can get blown into the soffit area & allow for insulation to get past.

http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/air-sealing-attic-baffles

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Permalink Reply by Ed Ballard on September 18, 2011 at 4:31pm

Sean-------I've often thought of using button caps also. What are your thoughts on using wire insulation stays such as Tigerclaws to hold the baffle in place? The difficult part of putting in baffles using a stapler is holding the baffle in place in while positioning the stapler to tack it.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Lintow Sr on September 18, 2011 at 4:50pm

The only Tigerclaw I know is the hidden deck fasntner system & I don't see that working - but your wire insulation stays does have some merit and I might have to try that seeing we occasioanlly have to secure wires so the gun is handy. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Ed Ballard on September 19, 2011 at 5:06pm

Sean--- Sorry about the Tigerclaw referance. I meant to say tiger tooth.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Lintow Sr on September 19, 2011 at 7:21pm

Ahh got you, that is not something we use, but it might work as long as it holds it tight, maybe two to prevent any rotation issues

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Beers on September 22, 2011 at 7:07am

I'd suggest buying sturdier plastic ones. Martin Holladay gave a comprehensive list of mfrs. at:

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/community/forum/energy-efficien...

ADO products was making one w/ a wind wash block built in at 90 degree angle - not sure if they still do.

 

Alternatively, use a hammer tacker  and don't swing so hard.

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