How Much Insulation Should Be In Attic – Of the many essentials needed to create a more energy efficient home, proper attic insulation ranks high. A poorly insulated attic can lead to a host of problems ranging from subtle to serious, including drafts, excessive heating and air conditioning bills, increased allergens, pests, critters, and more. Also, homes that haven’t been insulated for years (or decades) may contain materials that are ineffective, toxic, or teeming with bacteria that can enter your home unnoticed.
A properly insulated attic is one that consistently saves homeowners money on monthly heating and air conditioning bills while maintaining the attic’s structural integrity. Blue Nail Roofing has been in the attic insulation business for over a decade. Our insulation specialists are carefully trained, experienced with all styles of insulation, and treat your home and family with the utmost respect. Our experts recommend and install Owens Corning blown insulation.
How Much Insulation Should Be In Attic
Insulation of the attic space is the most important component of the design of the house. Choosing the right type and method of installation prevents the problems often encountered in older buildings. In addition to inefficient airflow and typically low R values (a measure of insulating capacity), it can include allergens, pests, and inefficient and toxic materials. The suitable type of insulation depends on the application. Fiberglass is by far the most common in residential buildings. However, older houses may contain sawdust, cork, shredded newspaper and bulk pulp on the walls and often nothing on the ceiling. In comparison, crumpled newspaper has an R value of about 0.5 per inch, while fiberglass felt is 2.9–4.3. These materials should be replaced with modern insulation that complies with building codes in your area, if any. In addition to insulating capacity and cost, the location in the structure determines which type of insulation is suitable for a particular application. For example, mineral wool is used for high temperature areas such as furnaces (over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, for example). In some cases, foam insulation is used in homes with stucco instead of drywall.
How Much Insulation Do You Need?
Some modern homes weren’t insulated enough when they were built, and even if your new home was up to standard when it was new, things change. Heating and cooling costs are on the rise, as are environmental design requirements. The US Department of Energy evaluates characteristics such as heat transfer R-value and temperature tolerances for commercially available types of insulation, including an attached radiation barrier, if any. Efficiency improvements can scale with square feet of quality insulation and deliver significant energy savings.
The two most common DIY attic insulation options are loose fill or felt (a generic term for quilt insulation). Styrofoam rigid insulation can also be used, but is more expensive and harder to work with. All can be added to uninsulated lofts or layered over existing material. Once you have decided which type is best for you, explore material options and prices. When working with fibrous material, the fibers break off and get into your nasal passages, lungs, eyes and skin and cause irritation or worse. Always wear protective clothing and a good mask or respirator when working on insulation. Also, make sure there is a piece of plywood or other supporting element on top of the rafters in the unfinished attic because the drywall ceiling is not designed to be heavy enough to stand on.
Effective attic insulation saves homeowners money on monthly heating and air conditioning bills by protecting the structural integrity of the attic while helping control moisture. Blue Nail Roofing has been in the attic insulation business for over a decade. Our insulation specialists are carefully trained in all types of insulation and treat your home and family with full respect.
Fiberglass felt is commonly used in new construction or where loft space insulation is missing between the joists. Fiberglass insulation is typically packaged in rolls of standard thicknesses and widths, typically 16″ and 24″, which are placed between beams or studs in the frame of the house. They are available with or without a paper or foil cover that acts as a vapor barrier and improves the heat transfer coefficient. Fiberglass is also naturally pest and mold resistant.
Reduce Your Heating Bills With Better Insulation
Loose insulation is packed in bags and blown to the desired depth using special equipment and is best suited for:
This extra strong type of attic insulation goes by many names such as loose, sprayed or blown insulation. Whatever you call it, spray-on attic insulation penetrates deep into cracks and crevices that traditional fiberglass rolls simply can’t seal.
Saving on air conditioning in summer is just as important as saving heat in winter. Some new buildings and many old houses are not sufficiently insulated. In some cases, you may be able to exceed local building codes to further reduce energy costs. A qualified technician can help you determine which insulation is right for your application. One of the energy efficiency considerations in your home is the flow of heat through your home. Professional evaluation can determine how best to achieve an Energy Star rating and determine which material is the most cost effective with infrared imaging. Heat loss from residential areas can be significantly reduced depending on the insulation material, area of the house, and manufacturer’s installation recommendations. But in warmer climates, it’s just as important to keep the heat in the house, and attic vents are essential. Roof vents not only reduce heat build-up, but also prevent condensation and can minimize ice build-up. Roof vents and ridge vents are effective in reducing residual heat in places where there is a lot of moisture and heat in summer and cold in winter. Active, temperature-controlled ventilation can make a huge difference in removing heat from an attic space and preventing moisture ingress without wasting dry heat on sunny winter days. Ask Blue Nail Roofing for temperature-controlled active attic ventilation for significant energy savings and humidity control.
In the video below, the Blue Nail loft insulation team takes you through one of our recent loft insulation projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Contact us to learn more about what makes our process different and how it benefits homeowners in the long run.
Types Of Attic Insulation: Pros And Cons
As shown in the video, this is more than just laying down a layer of insulation. Before replacing all the old, nasty, potentially toxic fiberglass material, we installed new baffles to speed up the free flow of air through the soffit channels to the roof. This not only helps to better insulate, but also helps protect the new insulation that has been installed.
Unfortunately, many of today’s so-called professional attic insulators are better at talking big than properly insulating the attic of a home. Since so much depends on the integrity of this multi-critical structure, it’s just not worth the risk. At Blue Nail, we’ve been insulating residential lofts in and around Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas for over a decade. Our staff of professional Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex loft insulators bring years of experience to every job. We have insulated all types of lofts and are well versed in homes in and around the Greater Dallas area. We use the safest and most effective materials available, a meticulous installation process and cutting-edge technology to ensure flawless performance.
We understand that in today’s economy, attic insulation can sometimes seem like a luxury. That’s why we at Blue Nail work tirelessly to offer genuine value-based solutions for every budget.
Part of what makes us the #1 loft insulators at the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the technology and equipment we use. This includes state-of-the-art insulation diffusers, leak detection and materials.
A Crash Course In Roof Venting
If it’s been a while since you’ve given your attic regular attention, we invite you to call in and find out why more homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex continue to trust our experience and integrity. Get answers, quotes, or begin your free estimate by calling Blue Nail Enterprises today at 855-255-1975 or email us through our contact page for a free attic insulation consultation for your home.
Blue Nail Roofing is a Master Elite contractor awarded by North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, GAF. Only 2% of contractors in the US meet the stringent standards to achieve this status, which means you can be sure you’re making the right choice when choosing the professionals at Blue Nail to complete your home and business roof repairs. Call today for a professional estimate!
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Types Of Attic Insulation
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How Much Does It Cost To Insulate An Attic?
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