Over Insulation Attic

Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Over insulation attic.

More insulation installation tricks and tips work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just. In a cooling climate a good blanket of attic insulation helps keep the house cooler and reduces the load on air conditioning equipment. Rolls batts or blown in insulation. Creating a moisture barrier.

Try a spray foam insulation kit to fill cavities gaps cracks expansion joints and other sources of air leaks. Insulation level are specified by r value. An un insulated attic should have some airflow to prevent humidity from building up in the winter which could condense and form ice. What is the right insulation for an attic.

You can do it yourself for about 500. Any new batt or roll insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic needs to be without a vapor retarder face. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture.

Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49. It s often used over existing insulation in the attic where moisture control isn t needed. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets and vice versa. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

If you use fiberglass over loose fill make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing. Unfinished or uninsulated attics need a layer of protection against air migration. Supports braces and other obstacles. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

Over the insulation install start at the farthest corner. It needs to be unfaced. Start in a far corner and start rolling out the foil over the insulation. As a result of evaporation people breathing and plant respiration air carries some.

Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and. These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter. Alignment obstacles in the attic. To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days.

Another benefit of the ventilation is that it will keep your attic cooler in the summer as well as your house. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. A quick rule of thumb is that you should have a vapor barrier on the warm side of the insulation.

It helps resist moisture that can lead to mold or mildew and provides increased sound and thermal insulation. Faced insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. Cut around these items it does not have to be.