Attic Insulation Dos And Don Ts

Do s and don ts when insulating your attic by roy cobler september 27 2016 the insulation of a house is seen as a science of transforming a space into a more energy efficient house so it is understandable that you consider hiring experts when you want to install insulation in your attic.

Attic insulation dos and don ts.

The insulation should be able to expand just enough to fill the cavity without compressing. The insulation will keep heated or cooled air trapped below in your living space where you want it. A finished attic should be insulated much like the rest of the house with insulation in the walls and ceiling. More in a space is not better.

Insulation don ts now that you have been advised on what you should do in order of ending up with a successfully implemented insulation project it is time to move on to some insulation don ts. When you add insulation to attic rafters and attic floors it s important to maintain at least a 1 in. Do check your attic s level of insulation. Do remove damaged insulation.

This air space flushes out moisture. Crushing the insulation reduces the effectiveness of the product. Who wants to breath spun glass into their lungs. Do not crush or stuff fiberglass insulation into a space.

In winter a cooler attic is more efficient for preventing ice dams because it keeps the roof cool. Don t assume your home has adequate insulation. Don t get carried away with installing a large number of vents all over your roof. Continuous air space between insulation and roof sheathing from eaves to ridge.

A radiant barrier will maximize efficiency by minimizing surface temperature of the attic insulation. Do wear a mask and protective clothing when working with fiberglass insulation. Replace it with new insulation. But if you don t do this you re setting yourself up for moisture problems.

A serrated bread knife is a good tool for both cutting and shifting the fiberglass. Do it yourself insulating do s and don ts. Insulation goes between roof and interior space if your attic is already finished it probably is at least partially insulated. Don t pack the gaps around windows.

Split the batt to fit neatly behind the box and then cut the rest to fit around it. Do include attic vents above insulation. Measuring it is the only way to find out its r value. Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in.

Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. For the best energy efficiency your attic should include both insulation and air vents. Firstly although some alternative insulation materials can do the trick and be less expensive such as cork or denim insulation please note that. Wet or compressed insulation has no value for keeping your home warm.

If the insulation is at or below the level of the joists add more insulation. Attic insulation do s and don ts. Never stuff insulation behind an electrical box.