This Old House Adding Attic Insulation

This old house general contractor tom silva explains the wide world of spray foam insulation how to install insulation learn how to beef up your wall s weather protection in 4 easy steps.

This old house adding attic insulation.

Doubled vapor barriers in attic. Fiberglass insulation gets its r value from the amount of air it traps between its fibers. Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49. This old house general contractor tom silva shows affordable ways to create an energy efficient attic how to know what insulation is behind your walls if you live in an older home understanding what pads your walls is essential to keeping your family safe.

If you live in an older house you ll have to inspect the insulation. If you live in a newer house you can probably get this information from the builder. Let s apply this knowledge to your. We all know that hot air rises as cool air sinks to a low level.

Attic hatch or door. In a cooling climate a good blanket of attic insulation helps keep the house cooler and reduces the load on air conditioning equipment. Before you begin the installation of insulation. Pull down stair or ladder.

If it s jammed too tightly into a cavity it can t trap as much air and won t be as effective. Use a zippered insulated tent to keep the enclosure draft free attic tent at 7 attic cover insulator 120. Laying a second layer of fiberglass batts in the attic is an easy way to boost r values. Add weatherstripping around the perimeter and a sweep to the door of a walk up attic.

Why the attic is key 1. Affix rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the hatch or door. Thickness must not be used as the sole factor in determining the r value of loose fill insulation particularly for attic insulation. How to insulate an old house.