The attic is often out of sight, out of mind, but it shouldn’t be ignored. A properly insulated attic can help lower energy bills and reduce humidity levels in the home.
If the spray foam insulation is accessible and you have some DIY skills, this may be an ideal project for you to tackle yourself. However, if you’re not comfortable working in the attic space, a professional should be hired to perform the work. You may also be able to find funding for home improvement projects like attic insulation through your state’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
Insulating the attic floor involves filling the attic with blanket or blown-in loose-fill insulation. The blanket type is pre-cut and easy to install, and the blown-in option requires more effort because it’s blowing the material around the attic joists to ensure an even distribution. The cost of blown-in insulation can be higher than other types, but it’s more effective and saves you money over time because it has a greater R-Value than other types of insulation.
Houses with half storeys often have a major air leakage path through the ceiling joists underneath the knee walls, especially in older houses. This can be a problem in hot climates as the moisture carried into the attic by air leakage can cause mould and corrosion of the wood framing. To minimize this issue, a combination air and vapour barrier should be installed at the junction of the knee wall and the interior wall partition. This is easily done by installing 25 mm (1 in.) of foam board, sealing and caulking it, and securing it with a piece of rigid board at the top of the interior wall (see Figure 5-9).
Insulate It Solutions
880 Bay Rd, Unit 00G7, Mt Dora, FL 32757
14079860795