Putting Insulation In Attic

With a finished attic insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable.

Putting insulation in attic.

Air migrates from warmer spaces toward colder spaces and insulation is designed to help prevent or at least slow that migration. Inspecting your attic insulation. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live. So it s time to pay close attention to what s happening up there.

Proper attic insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss in the winter and retain cool air in the summer. 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. Any new batt or roll insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic needs to be without a vapor retarder face. The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture.

How to insulate a finished attic. Direct the blower away from the baffles and attic stairs to minimize cleanup. Whether you live in a warm weather state as i do or in a cooler northern climate it s hard to stay comfortable and keep your energy bills in check if you don t have adequate insulation in the attic. That means insulating the attic floor only not the walls and having vents in the roof.

To install fiberglass batts over existing insulation lay the batts perpendicular to the joists so they do not compress the insulation below. Faced insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. A finished attic should be insulated much like the rest of the house with insulation in the walls and ceiling. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.

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. Spray insulation to the corners and perimeter of the attic first working your way into the center. But you can blow cellulose over whatever kind of insulation is already there and this is a great diy project for someone who doesn t mind working up a sweat. They didn t use enough insulation and they didn t seal up the attic bypasses or put in vent chutes olson says it s also common for older insulation to settle over time.