Most of the homes have attics or lofts. These areas are the least used in most of the homes but are vital to every home too. Since this area is not used much it may not get the attention that it needs especially for insulation.
Just like you would insulate your floor, walls and ceiling in your home so also you should insulate your attic. There are many benefits of insulating every nook and cranny of your home whether it is in the main area of your home or in the attic.
What are the different ways of insulating the attic then?
Usually any one of the three types of insulation methods are used to insulate the attic in any house
These include
- Roll on insulation
- Blown in insulation
- Spray foam insulation
- Roll on insulation
It is one of the least expensive kinds of insulation that can be used for the attic. So it is commonly used in many homes. It is also referred to as blanket or Batt insulation too. The Batt or roll comes in various sizes and kinds.
You can choose from the fiberglass, mineral wool or cotton rolls to use for such insulation. Usually these rolls or Batt of the fiber material are cut to size and the strips of these are laid side by side on the attic floor between rafters, wall studs and joists and bound with a binder.
This can be done by yourself or you can even call in a professional to do this job for you. Depending on the material used the R value can be between 3.3 and 3.7. So it will be a perfect insulation for your home if it requires insulation at this value. However, proper care needs to be taken during the insulation process that no gaps are left and the pipes and wires if any in the area are completely covered so that the R value is not compromised.
- Blown in insulation
This is a cost effective method of adding insulation to your attic. First you need to seal the gaps surrounding the ceiling perforations, plumbing pipes and holes made for electrical cables to pass through. Then put in place the vent chutes in every rafter space. Using a blower you can blow the cellulose or any other material you are using all over the place so it covers the whole area. If it is tough for you to do the blowing you can always get professional help to do it for you for a small fee.
The R value of blown in cellulose is between 3.2 and 3.8.
- Spray foam insulation
This kind of insulation is the most energy efficient kind of insulation for any attic. The insulation material used will expand and will tightly seal the holes and crevices present. So there is no air leak possible. This kind of insulation costs a little higher but it lasts longer too.
Usually this is done using a spray foam kit and the foam is sprayed on the rafters and floor as required to get the insulation that is needed. The R value can range anything between 3.1and 3.7.
You need to find out the recommended r value for your region as it differs in every region. For a higher R value you can increase the thickness of the insulation. Also you can consider the R value needed for your home and then decide which method of insulation is the best for you.
