It is very frustrating to not have at all or not have a good cooling system in the summer and heating system in the winter. Even if you have an air conditioner in your house helping you with the hot or cold weather, something very important is missing .Your attic is the most important part of the house that has to be insulated.
Types of Attic Insulation
No matter what type of insulation you prefer, they all work the same way. The insulating materials have air pockets that act as thermal barriers, preventing any contact of the air between the living area and the attic. There are several types of attic insulation that we provide, including:
Batt insulation. It is pre-cut in a variety of widths, with and without paper backing, for nearly any application. Batt insulation isn’t too complicated for a typical homeowner to install, but it is labor intensive so you will need the help of our technicians to install this product properly.
It works best for:
- Attics with standard joist spacing, especially those with no insulation
- Attics with few obstructions or penetrations to work around
- Attics with sufficient headroom for maneuvering during installation
- DIYers who don’t mind cutting the material to fit around obstructions
Blown in insulation. We also call it loose-fill insulation, this insulation is made from shredded or pelleted materials including fiberglass and cellulose. This type of insulation is great for oddly shaped attics or attic spaces with difficult-to-access areas.
It works best for:
- Attics with irregular or nonstandard joist spacing
- Attics with lots of obstructions and penetrations to work around
- Attics where there is existing insulation to be topped, since it fills gaps and joints well
- Low-clearance attics with limited headroom for maneuvering during installation
- DIYers who want to get the job done quickly and are comfortable working with power equipment
Expanding foam insulation. When you’re looking to fill cracks between your attic and the outside world, there’s nothing better than expanding foam insulation. It’s not as dense as other types of insulation, but it’s much better than caulk for filling gaps that allow outside air to sneak in.
Foam board insulation. It’s the most expensive insulation available, and it’s a long period of advantage product.
Things you should know about your attic insulation.
1.Inspect the Area Before Insulating Your Attic
The first thing that we do when inspecting your attic are signs of water damage. If there is a way for water to enter your home, that means that you need insulation removal immediately.
Water damage can lead to mold growth and weakening your home’s structure. During a proper inspection, the rafters will also be assessed to make sure they are not sagging and can hold the weight of new insulation.
2. It’s always a bad sign if your insulation is dark and discolored. This means that dirt is being deposited in your insulation and it is very harmful to your home and your health. If air is blowing through your insulation, then you know your attic floor is damaged. If your attic floor is leaky, you know that the hot and cold temperatures are escaping from your home! This means money spent for nothing.
3. Insulation should be laid out evenly and without gaps. If the opposite is done, that you will have problems and more money spent for nothing. The best thing is to contact us and we will take a look at your attic and resolve the problem.
4. Your bathroom exhaust fans should be vented ALL THE WAY OUT of your attic. The whole idea of these vents is to get the moisture out of the air created by your hot shower, so why would you want that moisture hanging around in your attic?
5. Choosing the Right Insulation for Your Attic.
Lastly, make sure you select the right insulation for your needs. There are different kinds of insulation, such as blown in cellulose insulation, batt, and spray foam insulation. Insulation will vary based on the R-value (thermal resistance) needed, the space available, and the budget of the property owner. The higher the R-value, the more heat that is kept inside, making it necessary for homes in colder climates. We will help you determine the best type of insulation for your home.
How Much Attic Insulation is Enough?
There is always the thought of how much insulation does the attic need.. This is dictated by many variables, including your local climate and how well your home is shaded and ventilated. If you have a house which is a well-shaded home with good attic air movement, you can get away with less insolation than a home that’s poorly ventilated and exposed to the heat of the summer.
In general, homes located in areas with hot summers will stay coolest with insulation with R-values between 38 and 60. This means that we have to put at least 12 inches of batt insulation, or a minimum 10 to 17 inches of loose fill to get to R-38.
If you want to increase air circulation, we can do this by adding attic vents, installing a radiant barrier in your attic to deflect the summer’s heat or winter’s cold, and sealing cracks that allow hot or cold attic air to leak into your home.
Before the cold or hot months, you should call a specialist to see if you have enough attic insulation. If you have less than 10 inches, there’s room for more. Also, we will advise you if you need insulation removal.
On average, most homes need up to 19 inches of fiberglass insulation for optimal efficiency. Some of the factors that determine how much insulation you need in your attic are:
Location / Region: Different location climates have different insulation R-values. The R-value is a way to measure how well insulation materials can resist heat. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation and the better is the performance. But this is not something that you just guess, our professional team will do everything for you.
The Age of Your Home & Existing Insulation: If you live in an older home, more than 10-15 years old, you should remove the existing one and replace it with the new one in your attic. Fiberglass and wool insulation can be retrofitted to update your home and make it more energy-efficient.
Why is it so important to insulate your attic?
If you want to use the attic like a living space, we will insulate it with spray foam. If you don’t want to use that space, we will use cellulose. Attic insulation is particularly important because the majority of hot and cool air enters and exits through the roof and ceiling. Properly installed attic insulation will minimize the contact of the outside temperatures with the living space.
Here are several benefits of installing attic insulation in your home:
- Keeps your home cool in the hotter months and warm in the winter
- Saves you money on your utility bill
- Provides a buffer between you and the elements year-round
- Reduces energy consumption
- Reduces greenhouse gases
- Limits the strain on your HVAC system
- Can double as soundproofing
- It is Eco Friendly
The truth is that insulating your attic is something that should be handled by a skilled professional. Our team has all the knowledge and tools to the insulation of the attic in the best way possible.
