By Approximately 25% of home heat is lost through poorly insulated attic and this is a big loss of energy and money, not to mention the comfort. In fact, it does not take long to cover the cost of payments of installing the attic insulation.
In some cases, the profitability threshold can happen in just 18 months, depending on the circumstances of the building. The penthouse insulation is effective for at least 40 years because of today’s better techniques of production, and it is clear that attic insulation is really a money saving move.
The complete attic insulation will cost an average of somewhere between 300 and 500 dollars if a simpler method of placing insulation on the attic floor is opted. And keep in mind that having a properly insulated attic potentially makes the property more valuable and appalling for the potential buyers. There are two different types of attic insulation that are commonly used mentored below;
Insulation sheets available in rolls of felt protected with foil, rock, glass or mineral wool and are probably the most common form of insulation. It is easy to install, and in some cases it is not irritating as it is made of recycled glass or in some cases even wool. The roll can be very cumbersome to get through hatches in the attic and maneuvering. This method is often perforated, so that it can be separated into strips and it is be implemented as one large sheet.
For loose fill, insulation matter is made of a variety of granular and light materials i.e. cork, mineral wool, cellulose fiber, and even recycled paper, which is more environmentally friendly type of insulation for attic. It is irregularly distributed between the beams and is ideal if there are many obstacles to apply sheet insulation.
Keeping in mind the requirements of attic insulation can be done in different ways, depending on the availability and price of the product and method.
100 mm base layer of insulation passes between beams or loose fill insulation, and then pre-insulated panels, which are fixed could be an expensive method as a pre-insulated panels have a price.
100 mm base layer of insulation that passes between beams or loose fill is followed by isolation of 170 mm or 200 mm, which extends at an angle of 90 degrees to the first attic. The plate is attached to the attic legs which is screwed onto the joists before the top layer. The following items are required to perform this insulation process.
- Large scissors
- Sealed mask
- Protective clothing
- Coot
- Extra light source
Working in the attic can be a bit dangerous and it is best to take all necessary precautions.
Cellulose insulation is a material made from vegetable fibers and is used in walls and ceiling cavities to help keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer. It has some great properties to allow better protection against fire compared with other types of insulation such as fiberglass. It is also considered a green product, since it is mostly recycled newspapers.
There are a number of benefits that can be obtained from cellulose insulation such as noise reduction and a decrease in utility bills. Cellulose fills the cavities fully that leave less air pockets to allow the sound traveling. Secondly, it has ability of trapping air. The major variance between noise reduction with cellulose and fiberglass is the density. Blow cellulose is about three 3 times denser than fiberglass which helps to muffle sound through walls as well as between floor levels.
Once you have decided that you will use cellulose insulation, the next step is to determine how much you need. R-value is the level of insulating value that blown cellulose insulation should provide and in this case the R-value should be above 25.
Blown cellulose insulation has a low level of heat conductivity and is extremely fire resistant in its natural state. However, chemicals are added to give it a higher fire resistance. The cellulose insulation is treated with a borate solution, which not only prevents mold growth but also makes it even more fire resistant. The application of blown cellulose insulation can be done in a weekend with two or three people.
These are the items you need before you start the work.
- Cellulose insulation material
- Paperboard for creating air flow from the soffit
- Reflective tape measure to mark how high the insulation needed to get to meet the required R-value
- Flash light for adequate lighting
- Masks and Goggles for people involved in working
- Fan
- Two-way radios to communicate with the person loading insulation matter
First of all, you have to prepare the attic and you should do this weekend before the installation. Cover the sound leaks with some putty, along with placing a strong wire around any recessed lighting. The cardboard to be used should be put along the ceiling area, so that the attic has adequate ventilation.
