Insulating an Attic

Insulating an attic is an undertaking that involves some time and effort as well as financial expense, but the long term result is well worth it. When you add attic insulation to a home and do it properly, you can help cut down on home energy bills all year long, particularly in the winter months when heat can escape through the ceiling of the living area and into the attic. Insulating an attic is a great investment in a house for those who have just moved in and taken possession; it is something you should look at doing before even thinking about tackling cosmetic issues like the trim or the paint job in the house.

Properly insulating a home does so much to help make a house feel more comfortable in any weather no matter what is going on outside. And by insulating attics properly, we get to enjoy the great monetary savings of our reduced energy usage each month. And of course, there is also the wonderful benefit of having a greener home that leaves less of a carbon footprint on the environment. Every little thing that you do to a home really makes a difference, especially over the course of time. Making plans to complete a project like this around the house has a bunch of great benefits that some of us might not even think of, and insulating an attic is a great task to undertake to complete because of all these benefits.

Insulation and Attic Remodel Projects

Insulating attics is also one of the very first steps we need to tackle in situations where we're getting ready to convert that space into a bonus room or office. Before you go any further at all with the project, you need to make sure first of all that the new floor (the main floor ceiling) is insulated sufficiently according to the standards in your geographical region. Get a measurement of what's up there and compare it against the R values that are recommended, and make sure to bring it up to par before you put a floor down over the top and start building walls. This is the last chance you'll get to access that area without trouble.

Insulating an attic for remodels also involves some other areas to cover. You'll need to make sure the walls and the ceiling or roof are insulated so that you can efficiently run HVAC up there. Whether you have a heating and cooling company run duct from your existing unit up to the new room or just use a wall or window unit, insulating an attic makes a huge difference in the effectiveness of these systems. Attics that aren't prepared in this manner are really hard to live in through the summer and winter months, taking on uncomfortable temperatures pretty much all year long.

Types of Insulation for Attics

Whether you are just doing the main floor ceiling or are getting ready to do the entire area in preparation for an extensive remodeling project, insulating an attic allows you several options on the types of insulation materials you might want to consider. The most traditional and arguably the simplest to use is simple rolled batt material. You can buy an attic blanket encased in plastic that can be rolled out perpendicular to the existing material to help improve R value and cut down on areas where heat can escape. Whether you use this material or the others, make sure the exterior overhangs remain open and properly vented. You may have to purchase and install special baffles that block off these soffits and guide cold air from the exterior up through the cavity and out through the roof vents up top.

Keeping this air flow moving stabilizes the overall temperature of the cavity and also keeps moisture from collecting, reducing the humidity in the room. Insulating with blown in cellulose or even spray foam material is a little different than rolling out batts, but these same principles apply whenever you are insulating an attic with any material at all. The cost and effectiveness of these products can vary and it is good to get prices and to see which ones might work well in your climate and still fit your budget.

Professional Attic Insulating Specialists

One of the best ideas is to get quotes from specialists to see what insulating an attic is going to run you and to find out about all your material options. Get photos of before and afters and see the way a project is supposed to look if you're doing it yourself. Use our free form to explore pricing for attic insulating materials and companies and get started with your project today. Insulating an attic is a great way to increase comfort in the home.