When it comes to improving the comfort of your home, insulating your attic is one of the most effective ways to do so. But before you start, it's important to understand how attic insulation works and what type of insulation is best for your home. Now, whether that will improve the comfort of that room depends on where the heat is lost. If most heat loss is caused by windows (even good ones are notorious energy leaks) or air leaks, doubling attic insulation may not make things much better.
If your attic is used frequently or you plan to renovate it in the future, you will need to insulate the interior roof surfaces. An insulation fan located at ground level causes cellulose insulation to pass through a hose to a technician in the attic. Insulating the attic with fiberglass blocks or rolls is economical and, in general, easier than blowing loose filler cellulose. When the roof of the attic touches the ground, around the edges of the attic, there is often not enough space to insulate too much. In addition, common mistakes made by homeowners trying to install attic insulation themselves, such as blocking ventilation grilles or using inadequate installation techniques, can be very expensive to repair.
Proper attic insulation can also keep the roof in better condition by helping to prevent ice build up and condensation. You might hear the terms cold insulation and thermal insulation when you're looking for options to insulate your attic. Thermal insulation is installed at the bottom of the roof cover, at the top of the attic, just below the roof cover. When insulating your own attic, you can place blocks or rolls of fiberglass or apply cellulose insulation. If you want to use the attic as storage space, it's best to cover the insulation with some type of coating, such as oriented fiber boards (such as SmartPly boards).
Therefore, insulating the attic floor is not only the best solution, but it is also the simplest and most economical. While you can get better performance out of any insulation simply by installing a thicker one, the Department of Energy recommends that your attic insulation be rated higher than R-30. However, if the attic floor is insulated, a new ventilation opening in the roof cover can be easily opened without removing or disturbing the insulation. In conclusion, if you want to improve your home's comfort and energy efficiency, insulating your attic is a great way to do so. Make sure you understand what type of insulation is best for your home and how much insulation you need before starting any project.
With proper planning and installation techniques, you can ensure that your home stays comfortable and energy efficient for years to come.
