Insulating Attic Tips

Pull down stair or ladder.

Insulating attic tips.

Use a chef s knife to cut batts. If only the living space will be insulated wrap the insulation around the room s walls and ceiling and then continue along the floor of the non living space. Check the attic to make sure the insulation is installed properly. Insulation levels are specified by r value.

Since warm air has a tendency to rise and cool air to fall insulating the attic is the place to start. If it is installed incorrectly with the vapor barrier facing up then the insulation will trap moisture causing possible water problems. By the end of the weekend you re going to be sore and tired. One for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation.

If the attic is unfinished the insulation should be installed on the floor. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Find out how much insulation should be in an attic and get some tips about this easy upgrade. Attic insulation is installed in the floor of the attic so you ll need to do a few things to make the process straightforward.

Start by installing temporary lighting such as clip lights and laying a few sturdy boards along the joists to create a walkway. Before installing or adding attic insulation take these steps. In attics vapor barrier on insulation should face down toward the living space. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. Insulating a finished attic there are two basic ways to insulate a finished attic. Cut slits in the vapor barrier to allow moisture to escape. During winter attic insulation keeps heated room air from escaping up into the attic and in summer insulation prevents hot attic air from heating up the living spaces below.

Use a zippered insulated tent to keep the enclosure draft free attic tent at 7 attic cover insulator 120. Cut and fit strips of 24 gauge sheet metal between the masonry chimney and the surrounding wood framing. If the attic is used as a living space say a home office or play room the insulation should be placed between the rafters. Some pros prefer it to utility knives because the large blade easily slices through the thick material.

While your entire house should be insulated there s arguably no more important place to install insulation than in the attic. Use the fire blocking type. But saving 1 000 or more with blown in ceiling insulation will make up for your aching back. Tips on increasing attic insulation efficiency houses can lose a lot of heat through the attic space.