Attic Insulation: 4 Efficient Ways to Insulate Your House

It’s winter time! And where people are busy taking out their winter clothes and blankets to cover themselves with an extra layer of padding. But, most of us are ignorant towards protecting our house from the chilling winds. Ever wonder why your house freeze in winters even when the heating mats or room heaters are turned on? In this article, you are going to get the answer. So read till the end.

When the chilling winds sneak into your house through invisible areas and make your house freeze, your energy bills hike up and you ask this question to yourself; why it is cold inside? My friends, it is because there are ignorant air spaces in your homes. These places are beyond your visible sight. One such place is the attic.

Attic insulation is an efficient way to save on energy costs and provide a comfortable warm house environment. A perfect approach to attic insulation can cut down energy bills by 10 to 50%. So, let’s get started with attic insulation.

Know these Tips before Attic Thermal Insulation

Analyze the attic condition:
An important step which will decide attic insulation type. Ask an expert to evaluate the condition, if your attic is having a trace of damp or wet and there is mold in the attic, then there is a high probability of having moisture retention.

Eliminate air leakage:
Look out for the gaps or cracks in the walls or roof of the attic. It is important to block such air passages to provide complete thermal insulation. To fill the holes, gaps or cracks, you can use caulk and expanding foam.

Opt well-suited insulation solution:
There is various kind of thermal insulation material that can be used for insulating the attic. Fiberglass, mineral wool, blown-in cellulose, spray foam, etc. are some kinds of insulating materials. Every thermal insulation material has different R-value so it is desirable to consult thermal insulation contractor.

Best 4 Attic Insulation to Enhance the Thermal Stability

Reflective Insulation:
Reflective insulation offers safe, cost-effective and easy to use install. They have high performance in terms of providing thermal stability. The reflective insulation material is a light-weight, toxic-free, air bubble lining that resists heat transfer and fiber free. The most prominent feature of reflective insulation sheets is they are environment-friendly.

Fiberglass Insulation:
Fiberglass is made up of melted recycled glass or silica to make fibers. They are light-weight than cellulose but you need a thicker layer to achieve a good thermal insulation as its R-value lies between 2.2-2.7.

Spray Foam Insulation:
It has high R-value and provides an effective barrier to air. Spray foam insulation is highly expandable and fills the gaps by sneaking into the minor cracks and stopping any air leakage. The spray foam is applied in the liquid form and then it expands and dries. Once dried the extra foam is cut out to have a uniform surface.

There are two types of spray foam:

Open-cell polyurethane spray foam- Its R-value ranges from 3.5 to 3.6 per inch.
Close-cell polyurethane spray foam- Its R-value ranges from 6.0 to 6.5 per inch.

Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation: It provides effective insulation at all temperature and gives the best result when the weather gets cold. Its R-value lies from 3.2 to 3.8 per inch. It is useful for providing insulation in ceilings, attic floors, open or close wall cavities, etc.

Do’s and Don’ts for Attic Insulation

Do’s

• Remove and clean the damaged existing insulation.
• Analyze the attic level of insulation and if it is below the beams or joists then add more insulation layers.
• Measure the R-value of the material and surroundings. Add more layers to bring the desired R-value.
• Seal the air leaks before insulating the attic.

Don’ts

• Never install the attic insulation if there are any water leaks. First, repair the leaks and then insulate the attic.
• Don’t install the insulation without wearing protective gears like gloves, masks, goggles, etc.
• Never stand on the joints or beams. There is a risk of falling.
• Never assume that your house has adequate insulation, it is better to measure the R-value and then decide the insulation material.