How to Insulate a Converted Attic

Locate all the wall studs in the attic with an electronic stud finder. Mark the position of each stud near the top of the wall with a strip of masking tape.

Mount a 3-inch hole saw into a cordless drill driver. Stand on a stepladder and bore out a plug of drywall between the first two studs as close to the ceiling as possible. Push the plug out through the opening in the back of the hole saw and place it on the floor below the hole for later use.

Repeat by removing a 3-inch drywall plug close to the ceiling between the remaining studs in the converted attic.

Push the delivery hose of a commercial insulation blower through the hole between the first pair of studs. Feed the end of the hose down the wall as far as it will go and wrap a rag around the hose to plug the hole and to prevent blow-back.

Signal your helper to turn the insulation blower on to blow shredded cellulose insulation into the cavity. Lift the hose a foot or so each time you feel resistance. Keep going until the cavity can't hold any more insulation before telling your helper to turn the blower off.

Ask your helper to keep feeding insulation into the machine as it empties. Repeat the above step until all the cavities around the room are full.

Cut several 1-inch strips off a piece of ¾-inch plywood with a circular saw. Cut the strips into sections 5-inches long to act as battens for the drywall plugs. Tap a nail into the middle of each batten to act as a handle.

Feed a batten sideways into the first drywall hole and slide it across until the nail is in the middle of the hole. Support the batten with one hand and drill two 3/16 pilot holes through each side of the pilot holes and into the batten. Attach the batten to the inside of the wall with a screwdriver and two drywall screws and remove the nail.

Insert the 3-inch diameter plug removed earlier into the hole. Drill another two pilot holes and attach the plug to the batten with drywall screws. Repeat by plugging the rest of the holes around the wall the same way. Note: accuracy is not important.

Apply a thin layer of drywall compound to the plug with a 3-inch drywall knife. Overlap the side of the plug by an inch and fill the screw indentations and hole in the plug with compound. Place a 4-inch square patch of fiberglass drywall mesh over the plug. Hold the drywall knife at a shallow angle and sweep the end over the repair from several directions to force compound through the mesh and to adhere it to the wall; repeat by patching the rest of the plugs around the attic.

Continue around the attic and apply a second thin coat of drywall compound to each patch in turn, taking care to smooth the compound down as much as possible and to feather the edges in with the drywall knife. Repeat two or three times until you've built up a smooth layer of compound over each patch with barely perceptible edges.

Wrap a strip of 120-grit sandpaper around a sanding block and sand each patch smooth until the repairs blend in perfectly. Apply a matching coat of paint over the patches to complete the project.