How Does Attic Insulation Work

Insulation blocks heat from entering the home in the summer and holds heat in during the winter.

How does attic insulation work. A radiant barrier can lower heat transfer from attics to the building below keep the attic space cooler and lower cooling costs by up to 17 in warmer climates. Everyone knows how vital attic insulation is for heat loss in winter. In hot summer months proper attic insulation will keep your cold air in and will keep warm air out. Radiant barriers are utilized to reduce summer heat gain in attics and help to improve the efficiency of green building envelopes.

Attic insulation regulates the temperature in a home. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your. Attic insulation should be installed directly on the floor of. If you are using loose fill insulation use sheet metal to create barriers.

It keeps the cold out during winter months but does it work the same in summer. To choose the best insulation for your home from the many types of insulation on the market you ll need to know where you want or need to install the insulation and what r value you want the installation to achieve. Insulation is a thermally resistant barrier which inhibits the migration of thermal energy into and out of the house. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Other considerations may include indoor air quality impacts life cycle costs recycled content embodied energy and ease of installation especially if you plan to do the. You can do it yourself for about 500. Keep all insulation at least 3 inches away from can lights unless they are rated ic insulated ceiling. Also when laying down additional insulation work from the perimeter toward the attic opening.

Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. How much does attic insulation cost. Unlike traditional thick layers of insulation radiant barrier is a thin reflective material. To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days.

The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. One for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation. Never lay insulation over recessed light fixtures or soffit vents. Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in.

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. If you re searching for does attic radiant barrier work or is radiant barrier worth it this article will help. The answer here is yes.

Radiant barrier is a home insulation type that is focused on reducing summer heat gain.