Attic Insulation Basics

Attic most building codes also require insulation in the attic.

Attic insulation basics. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. Here the insulation can be blown right over top of existing insulation to any depth or r value. Batt insulation is a type of insulation made of loosely matted fibers fashioned into a blanket like form. Conduction is the way heat moves through materials such as when a spoon placed in a hot cup of coffee conducts heat through its handle to your hand.

Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Blowing insulation into an attic the most popular project for using blown in insulation is adding insulation to attics. You should do this in the planning and design phases of your home.

Sounds excessive but it isn t. Now that you know the basics about how insulation works and why it s critical in your home start talking with your builder about the insulation strategy they re choosing for your home and why. How insulation works to understand how insulation works it helps to understand heat flow which involves three basic mechanisms conduction convection and radiation. Blown in dry cellulose insulation is commonly used in this area of the home.

Create your own price list in homewyse lists for a basic project in zip code 47474 with 500 square feet the cost to insulate an attic starts at 1 68 3 25 per square foot. Actual costs will depend on job size conditions and options. To estimate costs for your project. If the cost to heat and cool your home is getting you down don t worry.

We all know that insulation makes our homes more energy efficient. The installation process for dry cellulose insulation looks like this. For attics cellulose insulation is blown in parallel to the joists. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

It s a fast and easy diy project that two people can do in an afternoon. It can be used by itself to fill in joist cavities that have no insulation or laid as a thick layer over the top of existing batts of fiberglass insulation. This type of insulation. Check your attic insulation.

It simply is blown in to the depth required to meet the r value specified by local code. But even if you re lucky enough to have insulation in your home you heating and cooling bills might be out of control. In frigid areas experts recommend 12 of fiberglass insulation between the living space and attic giving you an r value of 38.