How to Insulate an Attic

One of the areas that has a higher risk of water-related problems is the attic.  As the house’s roof stands on top of the construction and is exposed to all the elements, particularly the sun 24/7.  

This causes the roof to absorb all the heat from the sun heating up the inside of the house.  If there is an attic, and this attic is built independently from the rest of the house, then we have a situation where the coolness and cold environment of the home clashes with the heat wave that descends from the roof.

This can cause mold and mildew growth in this attic space.  While maybe the mold will not pass or contaminate the rest of the home.  It still is a potential health hazard as the air conditioner and all other air supply inside the home will become transportation vectors for mold and mildew spores.

The best solution is to provide insulation for the attic.  Both in the attic ceiling and in the attic floor.  With this insulation you can prevent the heat that comes down into the home from the ceiling and the sun exposure will not cause unwanted moisture as the coldness from the house rises into the ceiling. 

In addition, the proper attic insulation will save you thousands in energy bills as you will not have leaking cool or hot air according to all the different seasons and climate changes a year has.  

Can you insulate your own attic?

It is possible for any individual to insulate his or her own attic.  It requires patience and effort.  It is certainly not a 20-minute task and while the process itself is harmless; it is important to do a proper job otherwise you will need to take everything down and do it again.  

With the consequential double cost. 

Starting with the basic basics

The first step in all of this process is the decision making.  What is it you need your insulation to do for you.  In addition, you need to decide what type of insulation would you like, plan or be more convenient for you to use.  Roll and Batt are some options.

 The next step is to prepare the area to insulate.  If you have things stored in that area, you will need to move them.  It is always better to have a space rather than move everything, work a small area, and then move everything again.  

Working on small areas at a time will only cause you delay, force you to work extra and it will tire you more and as a result, the overall work will be faulty and done poorly.

Besides this, if there is a need to change, correct, alter or even finish the attic space in your home, then this is the right time to do it.  You should not insulate an attic that hasn’t been finished. Unfinished and raw materials will react badly as they are exposed to the elements and in consequence, they will cause additional problems, work and expenses.

Remember that doing your own insulation work means that unless you have a construction company or some experience in the field, you will need to be extra attentive to detail.  At all times when doing the insulation remember to wear the protective gear is to be used:  gloves, eye protection and a clean particle mask. 

Particle masks usually have detachable filters.  It is important to keep the filter clean as that will allow a proper protection and will make it easy for you to breathe. 

Information you need to know before you start

R-Value is the amount of insulation that any given material will yield once properly installed.  Here, a higher “R-value” will give a more effective insulation.  

There are four commonly used types of insulation:

• Spray foam
• Loose fiberglass
• Cellulose
• Fiberglass batts

Spray foam is considered the most effective and the easiest to apply.  It comes in a spraying can that will shoot the foam much like an airfreshner will do.  Once sprayed it will begin to solidify and will complete its solidification in about 24 hours.  At that point, removing it is difficult and requires experience. 

The difficulty and dexterity required to use the spray foam insulations makes this type of insulation the least adequate for neophyte do-it-yourself home-owners.  It is always recommended that this insulation is installed by a professional.

Loose fill-insulation 

This particular insulation comes in three varieties: Fiberglass, cellulose and mineral wool.  Of these three, it is likely that cellulose is the most effective and environmentally friendly in all situations.  With loose-fill insulation, though it can be installed by hand without a loose-fill blower, it requires more work and attention to detail as the spreading of the material should be done evenly.

If you want to give it a go, begin filling the areas between joists, from the wall to the center of the attic room and from there to the entrance of the room.  Remember to be mindful about ventilations and electrical installations. 

Despite what many believe, spraying loose-fill insulation is not a task that a single person can do.  Regardless if they are doing it by hand or with the help of machinery.  

Loose fiberglass

This is applied by a machine that “blows” it much like a fake snow machine.  This is one of the favorite insulation materials for homeowners who like to do things caring for the environment.  Particularly so because most of the loose fiberglass insulation comes from recycled and left-over fiberglass materials from other forms of insulations such as rolls and batts.

The problem with this type of insulation is that it needs to be evenly distributed to be successful at its insulation purpose.  Additionally, it is important that you keep the safety gear on when applying.  If you have no experience in insulation installing, it is probably a superb idea to hire a professional or have a consultant for this matter.

Cellulose is another choice for homeowners who like to go green.  They make this insulation from recycled grounded paper, which is then mixed with boric acid and two other chemicals that will avoid insect population and provide fire resistance to the material.

Besides this benefit, the cellulose insulation’s thickness is a brilliant choice to ensure that the insulated area will not leak energy controlled air. 

It is important to mention that neither cellulose nor fiberglass nor any other form of insulation is fireproofed.  They will undoubtedly burn and be consumed by fire; what they are is fire resistant, this means that they will not burst into flames when briefly exposed to fire.  

Therefore, it is important to have your attic and any other part of your home checked for fire hazards.  

When you use cellulose as your chosen insulation material. You can properly install it in your home with just an insulation blower. Just like with the loose fiberglass insulation, the trick with this type of insulation is that you need to make sure it is evenly spread. 

It is not as delicate as the loose fiberglass, but just as with this one, it is important that you keep using the protective gear. 

Fiberglass Batts

The last one, fiberglass batts is considered as the easiest ones of the many insulation presentations available for all do-it-yourself homeowners that need to insulate their homes. 

Since fiberglass batts come in pre-set segments, they are easy to install and if you need to trim them down; they are easy to cut down. 

Most of these insulation presentations have very affordable prices and can be acquired from several vendors.  Some of which will also be able to deliver them directly to your door.  

Now that you have decided on what type of insulation to use, what’s next? 

As I have mentioned, and regardless if you are planning on hiring a professional or doing the insulation yourself.  It is always better to have an empty space to work in rather than having to move lots of things around. 

Check that there are no air leaks that come from structural problems in the attic. 

Sometimes a construction settles down and there are minor cracks happening specially where the bricks join.  Concrete sometimes cracks after many years since it has been settled for the first time.  These cracks can sometimes also provide air leaks that should be plugged and resolved before starting with the insulation installation.

When an attic is properly sealed, the insulation that is placed will maximize the effort and the energy bills will be considerably reduced.  Some areas that are often overseen and that might cause all efforts to go in vain are:

• Attic doors
• Pull-down stairs
• Chimney spaces

However, do not forget to check these other areas, if your attic has them:

• Windows
• Cable installations (any cable that comes from the outside and has an entry point in the attic.  Many TV cable companies do this)

Once any potential or known air leaks have been successfully neutralized, then it is time to ensure that any moisture that forms in the attic has a proper way to escape.  When moisture or ice are allowed to build up in the attic, there will be damage to the roof and walls of the home structurally as well as the development of mold and mildew as we have discussed before.

The way to properly ventilate and attic is through attic-ventilation systems, these could be soffit vents or ventilation chutes.  If you are not sure if your attic has any of these, you can contact a local contractor or your trusted insulation provider.

Next on the list are potential problems that can cause serious damage and put your life at risk:  Fire hazards.  Make sure that any electrical installations and flammable services such as gas installations are properly set up and isolated. 

Also consider any light fixtures.  If your attic has been set up as a living space, it is also important to check outlets and recessed lights.  If it hasn’t been set up as a living space, recessed lights should also be taken care of.

When you start your insulation process, make sure that any insulation you install is kept a few inches away from all lighting fixtures, this will prevent excessive heating and bursting into flames and short circuits. 

Here, it will benefit you to hire a professional rather than do it yourself, especially if you have no previous experience in taking care of fire hazards or electrical installations. 

Whatever money you might think you are saving is money you are actually risking when leaving faulty wiring exposed or improperly isolated.