The Benefits of
Attic Insulation

The Benefits of investing in installing correct attic insulation are not only financial but will also make your home a more comfortable environment in which to live.

It is also often one of the easiest home improvement and financing project to complete which can give, especially in the winter months, immediate savings on your home energy bills.

We all first look to the attic as the culprit for unproportionately high energy consumption costs for our home - we are paying so much to create that warm environment within our homes - but that hot air rises and is being lost and we are all too quickly losing the benefit that we are paying for.

It's all about saving money - by investing now to be able to make a home warmer for less! - and also protecting that investment by making sure your insulation doesn't come to any harm through roof leaks and more commonly - condensation - make your investment pay for itself and make it last.

Attic Insulation Safety

Safety is always important with any aspect of this home improvement project, you have to protect your lungs, your eyes, your head and your skin. It is essential that you provide yourself with at least a disposable dust repirator, protection glasses, pretect your head from overhead timbers, and wear overalls or a shirt that button at the neck and wrists and that your gloves go up and over the cuff.

It's all too easy to bang our heads in confined undeveloped attic spaces, especially when we are all so busy watching the floor to make sure that we stand only on the joists and don't end up going through the floor and ceiling below.

Vermiculite is hard on the budget!

Another very important consideration which should be looked into before you start is assessing what type of insulation material you already - the answer could drastically increase your budget.

Have a professional inspect your current insulation - most in good condition can simply be added to - to improve the R-Value of your insulation... but if you have "Vermiculite" insulation in your attic you need to find out if it contains asbestos - if so - this can only be removed by insulation contractors who are certified to handle asbestos.

How is this going to change your budget? - well first of all the cost of safe removal which will then leave you without any insulation in your attic - so you will have to allow for the price of a full attic insulation project. Of course - this is also going to leave you with a much safer home to live in!

Attic Insulation Checklist

Attic insulation basics include mainly preparation...

• seal all air leaks before you start - include insulation behind knee walls and sealing the knee wall itself - and seal all cracks and holes around door and window frames - around sockets and vents etc... you will NOT be able to locate these leaks after installation of insulation,
  
• Inspect the roof for any signs of leaking
  
• intall blocking around any equipment that produces heat - e.g chimney to leave a gap of at least 3" between the insulation and stove pipes, motors or any electrical fixtures or lighting,
  
• ensure that your roof vents are up to building code and in working order
  
• ensure that air will still flow around soffit and ridge vents,
  
• make sure your electrics meet national Electric Code BEFORE installing insulation and - take up the opportunity to improve lighting with only IC rated recessed lights that are airtight and can be covered with insulation,
  
• choosing the right level of additional insulation to bring coverage in your attic up to and over the minimum recommended R-Values for your area - without compacting the insulation,
  
• remember your safety gear and take your time with your attic insulation project,
  
• insulate your attic hatch or provide an insulation box above any pull down attic access.

Installing or upgrading current attic insulation is the solution to saving the heat you are generating and saving on energy costs by insulating attic floors and ceilings, as well as cavity walls and knee walls and also attic door insulation.

Attic Ventilation

Another very important consideration is that - especially in the colder months when heat rises - moisture usually goes up with it as well and adequate attic ventilation is vital to preventing dampness building up in your attic and adversely affecting the timbers and also reducing the effectiveness of the R-Value of your insulation...

keeping in mind that wet insulation - wether it is from a leaking roof of high condensation renders your insulation not only ineffective - but will also lead to damaging your home.

Attic Insulation Loose Fill or Batts

Loose Fill
Most attics have some level of attic insulation with loose fill or batt insulation. Loose fill is often choosen because it is a more economical option and especially when it is properly installed - can give better coverage than batt insulation...

Qualified insulation contractors have equipment that blow loose fill in awkward to reach areas and into cavities - it will cost more in man hours than a DIY job using blankets, but home insulation should be done properly for full and long term financial benefits and a warmer more energy efficient home.

Batts
Using blanket or batt insulation has risen in popularity because, blankets, batts and rolls are easier to handle for do-it-yourself insulation projects and because batt sizes are available to fit into standard spacing between studs, joists and beams. Extra insulation can be gained by cross insulation with batts over exposed framework.

Getting Started with Attic Insulation

• Contact your local building office for attic installation code requirements for your home and area - also why not and ask them if they have a listing of qualified reliable insulation contractors in your area.
  

• Always make sure that your contractor has all the qualifications, certicifates, experience and insurance to work in your home and do the job properly
  

• Always get references and follow them up and talk to the contractors latest clients about how quickly and effeciently the work was done - how much on budget - how clean the site was - if they have had any problems and of course if the are satisfied with the results!.

Insulation is preventing the passage of heat by imposing non-conductors.

Attic insulation is popular as an energy saving project because it is usually the highest area where energy can be lost - making it is one of the most cost effective installations you can do around your home - and also because it is generally easy to access to resolve the problem and update the Attic Insulation.

Related Attic Articles

• Benefit from Home Energy Savings
  
• from attic insulation to Solar Attic Fan
  
• Attic Conversion
  
• Loft Conversion in the UK
  
• Our Free Loft Bed Plan