When correctly installed, attic insulation can reduce your energy bill by about 20% or more each month. As well, there are lots of different materials that are frequently used for insulating attics. Most often, you don't even have to hire a professional to do this. You can do most attic improvements yourself.
When considering the type of insulation that you'll want to use in your attic, think about the R-value. The R-value of is the insulation's ability to resist against heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more successful it will be to insulate your home. The materials can vary in thickness, which means that some insulation averages an value of R-3 while others are as high as R-8 per inch. It's important to remember that over time, most insulation will lose some of its capacity to insulate and will lessen in R-value.
There are tons of reasons to think about replacing or improving your attics insulation. If you have little or no insulation, or you have it but it's old, then replacing it has much benefit. Also, you'll want to consider insulation if you have large energy bills or if your walls or attic have been open to the elements during remodeling.
There are many types of material that can be good options for using in attic spaces for insulating. Cellulose insulation is made of ground up wood or paper. It's often used in attics and commonly has additives that prevent mold as well as resistance to fire.
Another type of insulation material is fiberglass. This is made of molten glass strands. It is also resistant to fire. Wood shavings are not used much any more for insulating in attics. This is because it can be much too heavy for the inside of attics, plus can promote fungal growth.
Before you begin adding or replacing insulation to your attic you consider the fact of whether or not you have moisture problems in your home. Adding the insulation can hasten this problem. If moisture gets trapped in the insulation material it can easily cause mildew and dangerous molds to grow and spread. This is beyond the fact that it can also cause staining and rotting of the ceiling as water and moisture collect in the attic. You should seal any and all air leaks before you put in your insulation in your home. This will also help lower your energy bill simply by keeping the cold air from entering.
Always use much caution when working with insulation material. Be sure to protect your hands and eyes by wearing protective gear that will cover your nose as well. You'll be thankful when you do.
Attic insulation is designed to keep heat in your home in the winter and out of your home in the summer. Heat rises and, in the winter, any air that is heated by your furnace goes up ? and out through your attic. In the summer, your roof becomes very hot and, with no place for the hot air to go, your attic can become the hottest space in your home. Without attic insulation, that heat would quickly get into your home.
So attic insulation is probably the most important insulation in your home. The type of insulation you choose is also important because they are not all created equal.
Fibreglass batt insulation is probably the most popular type of insulation for attics. It is easily installed by homeowners and it fits perfectly between the joists of your ceiling. Installers need to be careful to make sure that the batts fit every crevice and corner snugly or a lot heat will get through the gaps.
Moisture in your attic will reduce the degree of insulation you get from fibreglass batts. Any leaks, condensation problems or other sources of moisture must be fixed before installing batt insulation.
Loose-fill fibreglass and cellulose is another popular type of insulation for attics. Spread by hand or with a blower, loose-fill insulation can be blown into corners and hard to reach areas, so there is less of a problem with ?gaps?. However, moisture also damages the fibreglass and cellulose in loose fill and you must fix all moisture problems before installation.
Spray foam is an increasingly popular type of insulation for attic applications. Not only does it get into hard to reach places, it expands to fill every gap and hole, so heat can't pass through spaces in the insulation.
Spray foam is also waterproof and often, because it expands, it will stop small moisture leaks. Condensation isn't a problem because of how well spray foam seals your attic.
Other spray foam benefits include support for the structure of your house, fewer airborne pollution and irritants in your home, and less outside noise.
Both Linden J. Walhard & Realart are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Linden J. Walhard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Travel and Leisure and Camping. Concentrating on latest developments in drywall equipment, Linden Walhard pens normally for http://www.insidewoodworking.com . His