The attic in your home is not just storage space and is definitely an extension of your home. It holds a lot of potential and proper insulation can enable you to explore those potential. Attics are commonly used for storage and help manage temperatures in a home by supplying a big mass of slowly flowing air. Hot air emerging from a building’s lower floors is frequently trapped in attics, adding to their image as inhospitable spaces. However, you will be surprised how a bit of insulation can turn the attic space around. Insulation in a finished attic is required to keep the attic sections pleasant. Your attic may come to mind when thinking of insulation, and with good reason. One of the biggest locations of possible heat loss within your home is the attic. This article will show you how to insulate an attic on your own. If you are stuck for ideas, you can also visit cleanairdoctors.com/attic-insulation for inspiration. Clean Air Doctors is a professional attic insulation service provider which will help you insulate your attic without much fuss.
Why Insulate The Attic By Yourself?
If you live in a cold climate, keeping your home warm in the winter can be costly. If you have an attic that is unfinished, good insulation is one of the most obvious ways to keep your heating-related expenditure under control during the season. As quoted by the Department of Energy, an attic that is well-insulated can help you save up to 50% of your heating costs. In an ideal scenario, you’d employ an energy auditor to determine how much coverage you’re receiving from the few layers of attic insulation you already have, as well as to identify air leaks that can be sealed to ensure your insulation does its job properly. However, if you are more of a DIY person, read on cleanairdoctors.com/attic-insulation for some tips and ideas
Guide to Insulating Your Attic Yourself
Preparing The Attic: To optimize your attic mobility, place planks or plywood holsters across the floor joists. Never tread between joists because you risk breaking the ceiling below. Make absolutely sure that there were no exposed wiring or unprotected electrical boxes. Caulk any gaps between both the attic and the floors below where air can get through, paying special attention to areas around light fixtures, electrical lines, pipes, and ducts. Wrap the attic entryway in weatherstripping. Make sure you have adequate ventilation to avoid moisture buildup.
Installing Vapor Barrier: Vapor-retardant facings are common on batts and blankets insulation, and some firm foam insulation types don’t require any further barrier protection. Installing a thin polyethylene barrier on the base of the insulating material to keep moisture from damaging your material is a good idea for other types. Such sheets may need to face the outer side of your insulation in some hot and humid climates. Always use bare insulation near fireplaces and chimneys, and when stacking new insulation on top of old insulation.
Install Insulation Batts and Blankets: If you’re using vapor-retardant insulation, lay it down with the vapor-retardant face down. Starting at a wall, work your way to the center of the attic floor or even the entryway, carefully laying insulation around joists and assuring a tight fit. When placing the material into position, be cautious not to squeeze it. Allow the insulation to cover the topmost plate of the outside wall, and lay insulation from across the tops of the joists for added protection. Each run needs to be cut to the appropriate length.
To Install Loose-Fill Insulation: Begin filling the area between joists with insulation with a loose-fill blower which you can acquire from your authorized repair retailer, starting from the walls and working your way up to the center of the room or the attic entryway. Pay special attention to any spots where insulation is required to fill in around impediments. Leave the vents open. It’s easiest to do this with a companion since one of you can hold the hose while the other controls the stream of insulation from the hopper.
Starting a project like this can be intimidating, so feel free to turn to professionals if it gets too much for you. However, with proper research, choosing the right materials, and proper safety precautions, you can surely get this done over a slow weekend, and reap the benefits of an insulated attic at a much lesser cost. There are tons of materials and resources available for you to reach out to online and make sure you read up a lot about it before you start on the project. You can ask your local home improvement or hardware store for insights as well.
