Best Way To Insulate Your Attic

Start with the attic floor.

Best way to insulate your attic.

Choose whichever option works best for you in terms of cost ease of installation and effectiveness. The attic is one of the primary areas of potential heat loss in your home. The best way to insulate an attic unfortunately the easiest way to add insulation to just about any place in your home is to install fiberglass batts. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass.

Fiberglass batts are typically the worst insulation for any job as i complained about in a recent blog. There are other materials and systems that you can use to insulate your attic. Batting insulation comes in low medium and high density batts. So it s time to pay close attention to what s happening up there.

Advertisement loose fill insulation also known as blown in insulation is made of small clumps of recycled materials such as fiberglass cellulose or mineral wool which is made of natural mineral or metal. In some ways rigid foam insulation is easier to work with but fiberglass is usually easier to get up into the attic. If it is located in a conditioned part of the house also remember to insulate and air seal your attic access. When working with insulation wear gloves eye protection and a good particle mask especially when using fiberglass.

Stop using your attic for storage. Insulate and air seal any knee walls vertical walls with attic space directly behind them in your home as well. Either way it can be left in place and insulation added over it. Choose your insulation material.

I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. This is supposed to be where the insulation and air barriers typically your walls and ceilings encapsulate your house like a warm jacket. Before insulating seal any air leaks and make roof and other necessary repairs. Proper attic insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss in the winter and retain cool air in the summer.

For example if your attic has r 19 insulation and another layer of r 19 insulation is added the insulation will have a value of r 38. Place planks 1 by 6 or 1 by 8 or plywood sheaths across floor joists to improve your mobility in. Contractor or insulation installer s fee. Square footage of your attic.

The conventional way of insulating your attic the little inset picture in the upper right shows you the envelope of a typical house. Preparing an attic for insulation. There are a few different kinds of insulation available for your attic project. Here is how to insulate an unfinished attic.

The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost.