Installing Attic Insulation

Things to Consider When Installing Attic Insulation

Having the right level of attic insulation in your house is definitely one of the most important considerations in keeping your energy costs low. Attic insulation protects from the cold in the winter, and also keeps the cool in during the hot summer months. What considerations factor in towards making your attic a well insulated place?

Examine first the type of attic insulation you have. Many older houses have what is referred to as batt insulation. That’s the kind that comes in large rolls, and is typically colored pink or yellow. The insulation is spread out in the attic, generally between the wooden beams.

The other kind of insulation is called blow-in insulation. Blow-in insulation is typically installed by professional contractors, as they have the correct equipment to do the work. Small bits of insulation are mechanically wind blown into the attic, creating the blanket across the attic floor. You will generally find this kind of insulation in new houses.

There are of course good and bad with either batt insulation or blow-in insulation. Batt insulation, when installed properly provides an equal R-Factor through the attic. The R-factor is the measurement of the overall performance of the insulation, and is also called the thermal performance. It measures the resistance of the flow of heat. Batt attic insulation that is properly installed will give you a uniform R-Factor through the entire attic.

Alternatively, blow-in insulation is propelled into the attic with a machine. While it is very difficult to blow it in uniformly through the whole attic, the result is a variable R-factor in that space. As long as the installation is done thoroughly, and the necessary minimum number of inches sits on the flooring of the attic, the insulation will do the trick. This makes the issue of a non-uniform R-factor a non-factor overall.

The money involved with batt and blow-in insulation is of course another factor to consider. Usually batt insulation costs less to buy, but your time is something to consider as well. Lots of time is needed to correctly add insulation, or replace the existing insulation. When adding attic insulation, you of course have to have the right equipment, including proper clothes, lots of time, and plenty of patience.

Alternatively, you can always contract the job out for a little more money, and have a blow-in insulation job completed in just a few hours without as much trouble.
Stay tuned as next I will cover more on the differences between batt and blow in attic insulation, and consider other energy saving tips for your attic.

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About the Author:

Jeff Buckley advises consumers on how to save on their energy bills by using attic insulation including blow in insulation.

Attic Access Door Hatch
publisher: Battic Door Energy Conservation Products
ASIN: B001E8V1D2
sales rank: 146579
price: $199.00 (new)

The E-Z Hatch Attic Access Door Panel Hatch System is an easy to install, easy to use, highly insulated door, panel, hatch system that installs in minutes and provides an air sealed, professional, high-quality, insulated access opening into the attic space. Triple gaskets provide an air tight seal! The core of the door is 10″ thick and made of Expanded Polystyrene foam that provides a greater R-Value per inch than fiberglass. The face of the door is gloss white, durable, and easy to clean. The top gasket of closed cell insulation seals the top of the door. The gasket is fire rated per ASTM E84 for flame spread (FSI) 25 or less, smoke developed (SDI) 50 or less, (required by Code for exposed insulation) and meets code requirements. The lightweight door weighs 10 pounds, and lifts up and out of the way for easy attic access. No hinges – The door is designed to prevent interference with the roof joists. Triple pre-installed weatherstrip gaskets ensure an air tight seal. Gasketing provided where the trim meets the ceiling, where the face of the door meets the trim, and where the top of the door meets the frame. The lightweight door opens with little effort, allowing easy entry into your attic space. The finished face on the door fits tightly into the weatherstrip on the trim when the door closes. Perfect for use with any type of attic insulation, including blown-in insulation. The 12 in. tall wood frame acts as an insulation dam, which holds the insulation back from the opening, and takes the mess out of getting into your attic space. Sized to fit either between roof trusses 24″ on-center, or between ceiling joists 16″ o.c. with minimal carpentry required (cut one joist and add a header and footer). Whether in new construction or retrofit, the unit can be installed in minutes with only a utility knife and a screwdriver. Prefinished gloss white trim and door standard.

It Is Easy to Add Attic Insulation Video
Owens Corning Attic Insulation Products improve the energy efficiency of your home. This video shows you how to do it yourself.

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