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Roof Heating TapesThe Three Important Types of Attic Insulation

Many people do not realize this, but attic insulation is a really good means in which you may dramatically reduce the energy bills of your household. Saving energy constitutes a really fashionable and argued issue in our present days, both amongst the masses as well as in the mass media. Attic insulation is an inexpensive and extremely effective solution, particularly if you can not afford expensive eco-friendly appliances.

A primary natural laws says that hot air always goes up. This is exactly the reason why lack of attic insulation always causes the hot air to rise up from the house and get straight outside through the roof. And this is precisely the use of attic insulation. It will stop the hot air from leaking out and it will truly cut back the running time amount of your furnace.

Likely the best-selling type of attic insulation is fiberglass batt insulation. It is in reality what nearly everyone envisions in their mind’s eye when thinking about attic insulation. Fiberglass batts are actually long strips that can be colored in yellow or pink. Besides the fact that this special insulation type is extremely easy to install, fiberglass batts can have varying R-values, which constitutes an advantage too, as you must customize your R-value taking the advisable value of your area into consideration. You can either choose to incorporate a vapor barrier or not.

Secondly, another cool option is cellulose attic insulation. It has a fundamental advantage over the fiberglass batts, the fact that it is way more affordable. Still, there is a catch to this: regular people can not apply this type of insulation themselves, and professional service is often needed. This fact will slightly increase the cost of its installation. Cellulose is a loose material which gets blown on the floor of your attic, covering even the tiniest hole or gap. The perfect installation is a homogenous blanket. Also, if you treasure the environment, you will be delighted to know that cellulose is a very environment friendly solution, since cellulose is actually fabricated from reprocessed newspapers.

Lastly, let’s not leave out spray foam insulation. This particular insulation type was mostly used in commercial applications, nevertheless it is now a lot more common than it used to be. This is a material that expands, and it becomes a few times larger in its dilated state. This lets it cover every little opening and thus create a highly effective insulation. Spray foam has high R-values, making it particularly profitable in cold climates. This is also a type of insulation that requires a professional installation procedure, since very specialized tools are needed in the process.

Now, how effective can attic insulation be in shrinking your energy bills? As a matter of fact, it can be extremely effective, and you will really be amazed to find out the fact that you could even pay up to 30% less for your energy bills! All you must do is get hold of a professional who will examine your attic and will tell you precisely what insulation type works best for your household.

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Roof Heating TapesHow To Install Blown In Attic Insulation

Scenario:

I have just completed an addition to my house. I’ve heard that blown in insulation is better than batts since covers the joists completely and leaves no open areas. Do you have any do it yourself suggestions?

Solution:

Yes you are correct. Blown in insulation is better that batts when installed properly as it does seal the attic better.

First you need to measure your attic area that you plan on insulating. Most attics require a value of R-30, R-38 or R-49, depending on your climate and location. Once you know the square footage of your attic you can determine how much insulation you’ll need by simple looking on the chart located on the bag of insulation.

Before you get started you will need to determine what materials you will need. Assuming your home has recessed lights, ceiling and bathroom fans and eave vents you will need the following tools and materials:

Loose Fill Insulation

Cardboard Baffles

Flashing

Duct Tape

Staple Hammer and Staples

Utility Knife

Ladder

Insulation Blowing Machine (Available at your local rental store)

The attic will need preparation before you can actually blow insulation into it. Make sure you are wearing a dust mask, protective goggles and a long sleeve shirt. Recessed lights must have flashing installed around them leaving a open space of at least four inches from the flashing to the light. Using a utility knife cut a piece of flashing of the correct length and form it into a cylinder shape, securing the edge with duct tape. Place over recessed light leaving a four inch open area. This allows for the heat to escape. Use the same process for any vented kitchen or bathroom fans in the attic area.

The next step is baffles. This is a chore nobody enjoys. The baffles need be installed by using your staple hammer and install them where the ceiling joists intersect with roof rafters. Make sure you only install the baffles over the vents and that they are high enough so the vents won’t get covered with insulation. Now that you’ve installed you might want to climb out of the attic and give you back a much needed rest.

The next step of preparation is to make a dam around the attic access hole. The easiest way is to cut a few extra cardboard baffles into lengths of about 4 inches above the amount of insulation you plan on installing. Simply staple them around the perimeters of the access hole. This will allow for a uniform depth in the insulation you are blowing in.

So you don’t have to keep crawling in and out of the attic it’s best to have another person outside helping you load the insulation blowing machine. Hint: If you’re using fiberglass insulation have your helper add about a cup of water per bag, spreading it over the top after its loaded into the machine. This will help cut down static electricity when you are blowing the insulation and it will lay down more evenly when installing it. After the bag of insulation is loaded into the hopper it will take several minutes before the next bag is needed. Don’t let your helper be lazy. Have him get on the ladder and pull excess hose out of the attic for you so you don’t get tangled in it.

I’ve found blowing insulation into the attic is a simple process. Start and the far ends of the attic. Going back and forth make sure its level and smooth. Make sure to get all areas of the attic and don’t fill any vents or recessed light areas. Take a tape measure with you and check the levels once in a while. As an example, if your installing an R-38 of fiberglass insulation you would want it to measure 16 inches deep. As you work your way back near the attic access make sure your helper is getting that excess hose out of the way. When you get to about 6 feet from the access hole stop the machine so you can get on the ladder. Once on the ladder finish installing, making sure to bring the level evenly against the dam you previously built.

The final step is to place a piece of batt insulation in the access hole and carefully put the attic hole lid back into place. Now your done! Stay out of that attic as much as possible from this point as loose fill insulation that has been stepped on or crushed looses it’s R value.

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