Everything About the Attic

Cellulose attic insulation became popular in the 70’s, when people’s awareness towards the preservation of the environment became strong. This is because the cellulose insulation is a product of the paper industry, and it is actually made of recycled newsprint up to 75%. The R-value for this type of insulation is 3.2 per inch.

Also profiting from a shortage of fiberglass, the average Joe started installing cellulose insulation in the attic, and it became an instant hit. The price was also an important factor, as manufacturing cellulose was much cheaper than manufacturing fiberglass, thus making the product cheaper itself (obviously).

This trend slowly but shortly became weaker and in the end it gave back fiberglass its number one spot in the popular preference. There are way fewer companies that sell cellulose insulation nowadays.

The R-values of cellulose and fiberglass are the same when talking about normal temperatures. However, in colder climates, cellulose is more effective because it has better insulating properties. Another advantage of cellulose over fiberglass is the fact that it is less vulnerable to air movement and it is not that much affected by packing. It is a better option for insulating cavities, walls and ceilings.

The cellulose is basically a loose fill product. This means that up until the time when a wet-spraying method was developed, installing it was quite a difficult task. What the spraying equipment must do is to combine a small amount of water with the actual insulation, and this creates a certain stickiness. With the help of pressure spraying, open walls can be filled in this way.

The installation is not very difficult. You need a spray tool that will pump the thick cellulose into different spaces. The walls on which it is being used can usually be closed in as little as 24 hours after the application of the insulation. Spraying this type of insulation will give you, as a home owner, the full R-value needed for your house, because it fills up the wall cavities (as opposed to batts).

Special chemical treatments are also made for the cellulose insulation nowadays, since the material is flammable. The treatment actually makes it very resistant to fire, and it will actually slow down its progress inside a building. Another good aspect of cellulose is the fact that it doesn’t come with all the irritating properties that fiberglass has.

Installing attic insulation is a pretty easy task, one of the easiest when it comes to house renovation. If you want to do it yourself, you need to know your options. And these aren’t too many: you can choose either batt or loose fit, roll and blanket insulation.

So here are the most important tools you’ll need when installing your attic insulation: the insulation (obviously), a measuring tape, a utility mask, and all the protective equipment you must wear (filter mask, gloves, goggles, a long sleeved shirt and long pants and finally knee pads, which are optional).

The basic steps needed in order to properly install attic insulation are easy to do, but this doesn’t necessarily meant that they shouldn’t be done cautiously. In a very brief fashion, these steps are:
1.Unroll the blanket or the batt;
2.Put it into place by pressing it;
3.Unfold the edges of the facing and if needed, staple it into place.

However, if you want the job to be done in a perfect manner, you need to follow a few basic guidelines. This will prevent you from ever having to deal with insulation problems. Maybe the most important piece of advice of them all is: install the vapor barrier so that it faces the living space! This is a must.

Also, only one side of the insulation should have a vapor barrier. You need to make sure of this in the eventuality that some moisture will eventually be present. In this case, the last thing you need is for this moisture to be trapped inside the insulation. It must be able to escape into the attic.

In order to be able to completely preserve the full R-value needed in your area, you must avoid to compress your existing insulation. The natural state of the insulation is what gives it its default R-value and that’s why you need to keep it in its natural state. Things that are bound to happen in the future are also taken into consideration when the R-value is calculated. Fiberglass batts, after a batt is unrolled, will surely expand. Blown cellulose will settle. All these factors are taken into consideration when doing the R-value calculations, so that’s why you should not temper with that in any way.

There are several important and popular attic insulation materials. They differ in R-values, cost of installation, etc. It is your own responsibility to choose one type over the other depending on the climate of the zone you are living in, the cost, or any other factor that you want to consider.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is maybe the most widely used material in attic insulation. It has an R-value of 3.2 per inch, and it is fluffy looking (it somewhat resembles cotton candy). It comes in handy when you need to insulate pipes, air ducts and ceilings. It comes in a few different shapes, like the fiberglass batts, fiberglass blankets or fiberglass rolls. There is also a controversy that surrounds fiberglass, because some people think it can create lung problems that are similar to the ones created by the asbestos.

Cellulose

The cellulose has an R-value of 3.2 per inch. The cellulose insulation is actually a byproduct of the paper industry, and it uses recycled newsprint in a proportion of up to 75%. Although it has been used in insulation for decades, it really grew into popularity in the 1970’s, when people started to be environmentally responsible. Although fiberglass and cellulose have similar R-values, cellulose is best suited for lower temperatures, where it acts better than fiberglass. An extra advantage for the cellulose is the fact that it doesn’t share the irritating properties of the fiberglass.

Mineral Wool

The mineral wool has a slightly lower R-value than the 2 previous materials, 3.1 per inch. It is also known as rock wool and is manufactured from steel slag. The most important advantages of mineral wool are the fact that it does not rot, melt or even burn (so it is a permanent deal) and it will not absorb moisture, which means that you won’t have problems with mold either. It acts as a vapor barrier itself, so it doesn’t need an additional one.

By now, you should be aware of the fact that adding attic insulation to your house will dramatically reduce the amount of wasted energy. This basically means that the attic insulation cost is going to be  paid off by reducing the energy bills. Experts actually estimate that the cost of attic insulation is recovered in 5 to 6 years. After that, it’s all profit for you. So how do you determine the actual cost?

First of all, if you just moved into a new house and you don’t know this, check out if the attic has insulation. Also, determine its r value and compare it to the region’s standard. As you know, every region has a different appropriate R factor, depending on its climate. A colder climate requires a higher r value, because the higher the r value is, the better the insulation works.

If your house doesn’t have insulation at all or it has a lower R value than recommended, calculate the difference. Also, you must measure the length of the space that needs insulation. Bear in mind that batts and blankets come in widths of 16 or 24 inch. The reason behind this is the fact that they must be able to fit the space that exists between the joists of your attic floor.

Now here comes the important question for you: blown in fiberglass insulation or batts?  While the overall cost of insulating using either blown in fiberglass or batts can be a factor for you, it should not be the most important one in making this particular decision. Blankets are at least 40 feet long, while batts are cut by the manufacturers in lengths of 4-8 feet. When you’ve decided what type of insulation to use, you need to divide the total length of the area that needs insulation by the length of the particular product you decide to use.

Now that you have found how many units you need to do the job, you just need to multiply that by the cost of each unit. This will not give you an exact and 100% accurate of the total cost, but it will give you an idea nonetheless. Now you need to look for professional installers and request quotes from them. Another good idea is to use an online calculator that estimates the costs. Newer buildings will usually require less insulation than old ones. This is a factor that is also considered by online calculators, along with the square footage of your attic, the size of the house, etc.

Attic insulation is the most important thing that you can do to your attic in order to make it energy efficient, which in turn creates cost efficiency. There are different attic insulation r values that can be applied, depending on the zone you are living in, mainly its climate.

For example, an R-38 attic insulation value is very well suited to warm climates.  This is the type of insulation that will keep the overall temperature inside your house lower and your air conditioning costs down. On the opposite end, if you live in a colder climate, an R-49 attic insulation value would be appropriate for you. This will prevent the hot air from escaping outside your house. The most important ways in which you can do the attic insulation are: using cellulose, fiberglass batts or loose fiberglass.

So what really is the R factor of your attic insulation? It represents the resistance to heat flow, and it is a measurement of the thermal performance. The important thing to note here is the fact that blown in fiberglass and fiberglass batts offer diff

erent R values, with an advantage for the batts. In the case of batts, one inch of material will offer you an R factor of 3.1 to 4.2, while in the case of fiberglass those two values are 2.3 and 2.8.

Now, the overall r value needed for your house, as already mentioned, will vary depending on the zone you are living in. R-22, R-38 and R-49 are the most important r values for attic insulation. New Midwestern houses usually have an attic insulation value of R-44.

If you know your way around the house, you can install the insulation yourself. If that’s not the case, you need to call a professional. In the eventuality that you decide to do it yourself, make sure that you wear a long sleeve shirt, eye protection, a mask and gloves. Also, you should avoid doing this in the heat of the summer.

Attic insulation is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to make your house more energy efficient. It has the purpose of regulating temperatures inside your house, making it cooler during summer time and warmer during winter time. It is also comfortable and not very expensive. Here is a selection of great articles about attic insulation that will answer any questions you might have about either installing or adding attic insulation, what are the most important types and materials, etc.

Attic Insulation R-Values: What are the R-values of attic insulation and what do they represent? Read all about them and make sure that your house’s attic insulation has the proper R-value.

Attic Insulation Materials: What are the most important materials used in attic insulation? You need to make your own decision, based on all the factors presented in this article.

Types of Attic Insulation: There are two types of attic insulation which are popular nowadays: blown-in and batts. Find out what are the differences between the two.

Fiberglass Attic Insulation: Probably the most popular material used in attic insulation, fiberglass has its disadvantages also.

Cellulose Attic Insulation: Cellulose is not as popular as it was back in the 70s as an attic insulation material. Why was it so popular then and why is fiberglass number 1 now?

Best Attic Insulation: This is an important decision that everyone needs to make before starting an attic insulation project. What shall it be? Blown-in or batts?

Attic Insulation Installation: Installing attic insulation is quite easy, and you can actually do it yourself. Find out exactly how you can accomplish that.

Attic Insulation Cost: Installing attic insulation is one of the cheapest ways to increase the energy efficiency of your house and it will not cost you an arm and a leg.

Attic Door Insulation: If you think this type of insulation is not important, think again. Find out everything you need to know about how to insulate your attic’s door.

Spray Foam Insulation: A great alternative to fiberglass, this type of insulation is becoming more and more popular. Find out why.