Attic Insulation Types

Attic insulation types give homeowners options on the ways they might go with their insulation projects. There are several different kinds of insulating materials that we could choose to use in our attics, and each have their own distinct characteristics and advantages. If you are getting ready to build a bonus room upstairs, you need to address this question first before that subfloor is laid down and your chance to improve the energy efficiency of the main floor is lost. Different types of materials and flooring systems all work in their own way to work in the attic to help slow the loss of heat from inside the home. Look at the attic insulation types and consider which one you might wish to use in your house.

Fiberglass Batt Insulation

Fiberglass batts are probably the best selling of all materials used because they do not require any special equipment to install. These are the attic insulation types that homeowners could probably most easily handle doing on their own, too. Of all the types out there, this is the one easiest to calculate in terms of how much you need for your local climate. Just check out a chart at the remodel or home improvement warehouse where you shop, and find the R value required in your locality. This type of insulation is labeled with an R value as well, making it simple as can be to make the right purchase and protect your home against heat loss.

No attic product can eliminate heat loss. warm air rises, and the rising of that air can't be reversed. But the best and most effective attic insulation types do a great job of slowing that process down. This has a few different effects on the home. First of all, it keeps the house interior warmer and more uniform in its temperature. It is easier for the furnace or heat pump to keep up with the thermostat setting and it doesn't have to run for as long or as often in order to keep things at the desired temperature. And this, in turn, saves you money by reducing your heating and cooling expenses. Of course, it is also great that all types of insulating products help homes become greener and more environmentally friendly by helping them cut back on their need for this energy and the operation of their HVAC systems.

Cellulose Attic Materials

And speaking of environmentally friendly, cellulose is actually a perfect example of a product that fits this description. This material is completely biodegradable, and it is also repurposed from newspapers, meaning that it is also a great example of reusing materials to save on natural resources, in this case wood and wood pulp. In terms of materials alone, cellulose attic insulation types are more affordable than batts generally speaking. But the fact that these types require machinery for installation raises their price considerably, because in most cases homeowners have to have professionals come in and install it for them.

This type of attic insulation is not quite as simple to calculate as far as the amount needed because it does settle some after the install, and the way to determine how much you need generally is based on the thickness of what is blown in. Of the different attic insulation types that require being blown, though, this is the one most likely to be done by homeowners who have plans to finish that space or who just want to make the main floor warmer. The cost of the project is lower when you do it yourself because home improvement chains that sell these attic insulation types usually rent equipment cheaply or give them away free with a certain minimum purchase of the cellulose.

Insulating with Spray Foam

Spray foam attic insulation is much more difficult for a homeowner to handle in DIY fashion. Of all the types this is sometimes considered the most efficient because of its high R value and the fact that it expands after being sprayed on. Photos of this and the other insulation types can give homeowners the ideas they need to choose one of the group when they decide that it is time to insulate their attics. Spray foam attic insulation types used to be mostly used in commercial applications, but are getting more popular in residential settings, so homeowners should give them some consideration if they haven't already decided which way to go.

Get some free quotes for attic insulating services and products installed by professionals in your local area by completing our simple form. There are multiple ways to complete this great project and homeowners who are planning on remodeling their attics as well as those of us who just want to feel more comfortable can check out attic insulation types to choose the right one.