Putting More Insulation In Attic

Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic.

Putting more insulation in attic.

You probably already have insulation in your walls and attic but maybe you re wondering if you should remove your current insulation or just add new layers over the old. By the end of the weekend you re going to be sore and tired. You can do it yourself for about 500. Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement.

Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. In general an attic s r value should be. To determine if you need more insulation measure what s in place with a ruler or tape. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing.

Spray insulation to the corners and perimeter of the attic first working your way into the center. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home. Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in. The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas which makes it easy to see what type of insulation you have and to measure its depth or thickness inches.

Do you need more insulation in your home. Now that you ve air sealed your attic and basement check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. The chart included below shows you the approximate thickness of each type of insulation you should ideally have in the attic.

Direct the blower away from the baffles and attic stairs to minimize cleanup. To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days. Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly. 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.

To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation. But saving 1 000 or more with. The higher the r value the more effective an insulating material is. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

So can you put new insulation on top of old insulation.