Attic Insulation

Attic insulation is one of the most if not the most effective methods of improving the energy efficiency of a house. It is relatively inexpensive and can bring savings of anywhere from 20% to 40% on your electric bill. Not too shabby to say the least.

There are various types of attic insulation that you can use to fill out your attic. You can use loose-fill blow in insulation, batt insulation, and spray foam insulation. Loose fill is great for putting a layer of insulation on the floor of the attic. It depends on the amount of r-value you need for your climate as to how much you will layer in there. Batt insulation can be easy to install anywhere between joists throughout the attic, but it less effective as an insulator. Spray foam insulation is a bit of the rage the past few years. You can put on a layer between the ceiling joists of the attic which provides a strong barrier from the sun and can even keep the attic at fairly cool temperatures.

Foam attic insulation is hot stuff these days and it is probably because of its ability to seal off cracks and holes within the attic. The fact that you spray on a layer as thick as a coat of paint and it expands out to 3" to 6" doesn't hurt the "cool factor" either!

The main drawback to foam attic insulation is that it can be very expensive. You are looking at $2 to $3 per square foot and that doesn't even count the attic floor. If you have the money, it can be a very attractive option for homeowners looking to seal off and have a cooler attic.

I get asked this question a lot, "Is it worth it to get my attic roof insulated?" My answer is generally yes, if you have the money. Obviously, you can't insulation the roof with blown in insulation so you have to use either spray foam or batt insulation. Batt insulation is definitely the cheapest option, but it isn't quite as effective as spray foam. If you can afford it, go for the foam insulation. This can really help reduce the temperature inside your attic which is good if you have much storage in the attic and you might end up spending some time working up there.

You can get an insulation r-value recommendation for your house and area. The first question you might be asking is what does r-value mean? Insulation is rated in terms of its thermal resistance, which is normally called R-value, and it indicates the resistance to heat flow of the insulation. The level of r-value is determined by the type of material, its thickness, and its density.