Attic Floor Insulation

Find your zone on the map and then use the above insulation r value chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Attic floor insulation.

Most homes are insulated in the attic and any floors located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces. However in some cases the joists are intentionally built strong enough for the homeowner to later build out the attic. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. Even easier you can also use a prefabricated attic floor kit designed specifically to raise the attic floor above the insulation.

Insulation level are specified by r value. How to insulate a finished attic. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. The most effective places to add insulation to older homes are exterior walls attics basements and crawl spaces.

However if you keep the storage weight to a minimum you may be able to build a storage platform above the insulation by attaching supporting beams to the sides of the trusses. That means insulating the attic floor only not the walls and having vents in the roof. The headroom in the attic will determine how much usable floor space you have. How to lay attic flooring on top of fiberglass insulation.

The ceiling load may include items like drywall ducts recessed lights bathroom fans and attic insulation. First if you never build a room in the attic the insulation in the floor area will save energy costs. Air from rooms below will not escape rapidly into the attic. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates. While you can get by cheaper by adding no insulation there are two reasons to add insulation between floor joists. While local codes vary many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

With a finished attic insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable. Attic flooring consists of materials as basic as sheets of plywood as well as more elaborate interlocking floor systems. A finished attic should be insulated much like the rest of the house with insulation in the walls and ceiling. Start with the attic floor.

Most houses attics are built without flooring and are not designed to carry the heavy load of finished space. Attic insulation between roof trusses. Don t skip the insulation in the floor. Stop using your attic for storage.

Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.