A Few Essential Tips On How to Insulate Your Attic Correctly

We are always looking for ways to save money on our bills in general, yet the best-kept secret is literally above your head. Some people may be wary of the cost of insulating your attic, or having any repairs or replacement to your insulation, however, that one of cost can save you far more money in the long run. As well as the financial benefit of having the correct attic insulation in regards to heating and cooling, you could run into some problems down the line if you have inadequate insulation. Some of the problems that you can potentially face especially in the winter months, where some attics can be prone to mold and mildew due to the poor insulation allowing the damp to form. Obviously, you will not want to face these problems, who does? Well, this post is designed to give you a simple insulation guide, and what is entailed in the insulation process itself. With these attic insulation tips, you will be able to avoid likely and expensive problems from occurring.

What’s Your R-Value

So to start with, you need understand what an R-Value is before you can actually determine it. In simple terms, an R-value is an insulating materials resistance which is a conductor to the heat flow. It is measured in terms of thermal resistance, or as it’s more commonly known as R-value. Typically the higher the R-value of your attic insulation, the more effective the insulation will be. The first step in insulating your attic is determining what type of climate you live in. Knowing you localities climate zone will aid you in deciding what the best R-rating insulation will be best suited to your attic.

Checking Your Old Insulation

Now you have selected the appropriate R-rating insulation that you will require, your next step is to have an inspection of the existing insulating in your attic. The reason for this inspection is to purely identify if you have any problems, or that the old insulation is simply that old and worn out and is in need of replacing. The inspection will also highlight if your original insulation was installed correctly, you may be wondering why your home may be too hot in the summer, or far too cold in the winter months, well that could be a consequence of inadequate insulation or improperly installed installation. Do not worry, there is a solution, and we will get to it! More often than not, to solve this problem is to hire an insulation contractor, to either add to the current insulation or to remove and replace the insulation completely. Choosing a good attic or insulation contractor is key because you will financially benefit in terms of your heating and cooling costs.

Selecting The Type of Insulation

Another invaluable tip in insulating your attic correctly is to select the type of insulation. There are two varieties available which are commonly used. The first is Loose-fill insulation; the components of this insulation are rock wool, fiberglass or cellulose. Loose-fill insulation is primarily used for those difficult to reach areas, or if you have an irregular shaped, as it can be “blown-in” in with special machinery. This is why it is sometimes referred to as blown-in insulation. The second type of insulation is known as blanket insulation. It usually comes in the form of batts or rolls and is made up of rock wool or fiberglass. Blanket insulation is typically used for ‘standard-sized’ spaces. However, there will be occasions where rolls and batts are installed through cutting and trimming them to fit. We hope that these tips are of use to you, and have given you a better indication of the importance of attic insulation.