How to insulate attic

After a couple of unusually cold winters for our southwestern Louisiana location, we decided we needed more insulation. It depends on how big it is. It also depends on what kind of insulation you are using. If you are just laying fiberglass in between the ceiling joists, then it goes pretty quick. If your lucky, there is enough room to stand upright.

How do you add insulation to an attic? How much insulation do I need in my attic? What is the best type of insulation for an attic? Cut a hole in the insulation wherever there is electrical wiring. Pull the wiring up through the hole and rest it on top.

Lay a two-by-four on top, temporarily compressing the insulation to a manageable thickness. Finally, run a standard utility knife along the edge of the lumber, through the insulation , and down to. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target R-value and. It works well for attic floors and walls and is an effective solution for helping stop heat transfer. While wearing dust mask and gloves, carry R-batts of unfaced fiberglass insulation into the attic.

Lay the batts across the ceiling joists, covering the existing insulation. Cover the attic hatch with a pillow of fiberglass insulation. You want a nice, big puffy pillow of insulation to stop any air leaks,” says Olson. Cut two layers of R-fiberglass batt insulation slightly larger than the hatch and staple duct tape to the hatch edges to secure it in place. Official Site, Ship same day.

Foam insulation board is. This reflective insulation is. July OR ORDER Fast Action. Batts are ideal for spaces free from obstructions like wiring, ducts, etc.

Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install and provides better coverage, able to fill small cracks and gaps. Insulate while you Decorate! In unfinished attics, you should insulate the access. The paper facing on insulation contains a waterproof layer which acts as a vapor barrier to keep moisture from condensing when warm and cold air meet. In your case, since both the attic above and room below are heate you can use unfaced insulation without a vapor barrier, faced insulation , or no insulation at all.

To insulate an attic hatch, you need weather stripping, rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation. First, install foam weather stripping on the inside of the trim or directly onto the hatch. Your attic , in particular, is a powerful place to add extra insulation because it accumulates and loses a lot of heat, depending on the season. Ensure you use a foam sealant to seal and insulate around any attic windows.

See below for a shopping list and tools. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: h. Adding insulation to the attic is generally a moderately difficult do-it-yourself (DIY) project, but the benefits can be substantial. If you are doing a major home renovation project, now may be a great time to tackle this project too. Attic insulation works like a cap – it traps the heat inside, increasing comfort and efficiency and serving as the first line of defense when protecting against outdoor weather and temperatures.

Before beginning an attic installation job, it’s important to check your current insulation. If the air distribution is in the attic space, then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. A) Attic access door. If you’re finishing your attic , insulating it to the proper R-value can cause a dramatic loss of headroom if you limit yourself to fiberglass batts. To meet all three goals— insulating your finished attic , ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom—use a combination of dense batt insulation , rigid foam sheeting and air chutes.

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