how to cut denim batt insulation Posted on February 7th
Over and again we’ve read complaints that UltraTouch cotton batt insulation is painful to cut. During a test run installation in our garage, we struggled with cutting the batts on the ground with a 2×4 straight edge and resharpening our Leatherman blade. It was a two-person job. The cuts were messy. We often resorted to ripping the batts with our hands so when we stuffed the insulation in the wall, the batts didn’t always fit perfectly. If some of the batts were perforated to accommodate non-standard stud spacing (as the bag claims) that might have helped, but we didn’t find any perforated batts in our 16 bales.
During the week-long insulation marathon with Gary, we developed a quicker, better method for installing the denim batts. Using sawhorses, a base, quick grips and a utility knife, Gary perfected the quick and clean cut resulting in a precise friction fit that completely filled the wall cavity. Cutting became a one-person job, making quick work for a two-man team. Changing blades often, every three or four long cuts, was key. We wish someone had done this for us, so we’re sharing our how-to cut technique below.
