A long-term storage space, attics are the frequently overlooked space between your roof and your primary living area. But it also contributes to the comfort of your house all year round. Upgrades to the insulation in your attic might assist if the winters leave you shivering. Fortunately, things you should know about attic insulation is a simple procedure that will quickly have you cozy and happy.
What is Attic Insulation?
Insulation may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it serves a vital purpose. Insulation creates a thermal barrier between the inside and the exterior of a building, keeping the interior at a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside. Insulation that works well in both the summer and winter prevents unwanted heat gain and heat loss.
Costs for both heating and cooling a house can be reduced by installing insulation. When you insulate your home, you save money on heating and cooling since you don’t have to keep the house as warm.
Which type of insulation is best for the attic?
When it comes to insulating an attic, spray foam insulation is superior to other materials. You may pick between 2-pound closed-cell and 1-pound open-cell options. They have an R-value of 6.5 and an R-value of 3.6 per inch of thickness, respectively, for insulation.
Both forms of insulation are effective air barriers because, when built correctly, they fill every nook and cranny. No convective heat transfer occurs when air cannot pass through it.
An effective moisture barrier, closed-cell foam can be 2 inches thick. Closed-cell foam insulation is more common in colder regions because of this and its greater R-value per inch.
What is the safest insulation for an attic?
Cellulose is a widely used alternative insulating material. Cellulose insulation is one of the most often used types of insulation because of its low price. It’s also a green alternative. Though cellulose insulation in various forms has been used for quite some time, these days the term is most often used to describe a product created from recycled newspapers.
By shredding newspapers into tiny pieces, the paper may be stuffed or blown into empty spaces in the walls. As you may know, though, newsprint easily catches fire. And therefore, chemicals are added to the paper fibers to make the substance more fire resistant.
Can we still safely use cellulose insulation? Yes. Typically, borates (like the laundry additive Borax) are used as fire retardants.
What thickness is best for attic insulation?
Regardless of the type of insulation you already have, a quick glance over the length of your attic may tell you if you need to add more. If the insulation rises high enough that you can’t see any of the floor joists underneath it, you may have enough and it may not be worth the expense to add more. For optimal results, the insulation should be applied uniformly throughout the whole surface.
How much should I add?
R-Values are used to define various degrees of insulation. The R-Value of insulation is a quantitative measure of its thermal resistance. Generally speaking, insulation with a greater R-Value will be more effective in preventing heat loss. Most attics should be insulated to R-38, which is around 10 to 14 inches depending on the kind of insulation used.
Which is better attic insulation blown or rolled?
There isn’t much of a price or performance difference between them, and you can find rolled insulation in a wide range of R-values to suit your demands and budget. Despite being less expensive, insulation with a lower R-value is less effective.
The weird crannies and crevices that attics typically include, particularly in the corners in which the roof meets the floor, make insulation a challenge up there. Blown-in insulation is preferable in such cases because it can be readily applied to inaccessible spaces.
Depending on the state of your attic, blown-in insulation may also be the most cost-effective option.
Get Professional Attic Insulation Help Today!
Insulating your attic is more crucial than insulating any other component of your house. Because heat always rises, you run the risk of having precious storage pieces damaged. Installing attic insulation may be done in a number of ways, which essentially means there are multiple wrong ways to do it. Luckily, there are skilled attic insulation professionals available to assist you.
