Attic Insulation In Old Houses

Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Attic insulation in old houses. Thickness must not be used as the sole factor in determining the r value of loose fill insulation particularly for attic insulation. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. I ll say that one more time.

In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Measure the size of the roof rafters. Rather than insulating the whole home and potentially causing problems like excess humidity you can properly seal the attic of an old house. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check. It doesn t matter the climate just start with the safest place that provides the biggest bang for your buck and that is alwaysthe attic. Insulating the attic and roof roughly a quarter of the average home s heat is lost through the roof. Vermiculite and perlite are older granulated insulations with relatively low r values which describes the product s thermal resistance.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. If you live in an older house you ll have to inspect the insulation. Inspecting and evaluating your insulation check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement. Shredded newspaper or loose fill cellulose was another common insulation in the past.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. Install attic insulation the answer to making an old house inhabitable is insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous.

Sometimes wood products such as sawdust or balsa wood were used at insulation in old homes but these are very ineffective. Start in the attic the attic should always be the first place you add insulation whether you live in florida or fargo. The bigger they are the thicker the insulation you can fit. If you have an unfinished and unconditioned attic like many old houses my first recommendation would be to add batt insulation on the underside of the roof.

This is a safe first step to retaining heat and saving energy.