Traditional Attic Insulation

Your attic insulation just shouldn t be alone.

Traditional attic insulation.

So it s time to pay close attention to what s happening up there. You can use the small pressurized cans of foam in place insulation to reduce air leakage in holes and cracks such as window and door frames and electrical and plumbing penetrations. Traditional insulation could retain water potentially damaging your home as well as reducing the functionality of the insulation. Water retention can be a contributor to mold growth.

But when radiant barrier is added over traditional attic insulation emissivity levels drop considerably. Radiant barrier is your first line of defense against radiant heat and traditional attic insulation fiberglass or cellulose is the second line of defense against conductive heat gain. Some installations can yield a higher r value than traditional batt insulation for the same thickness and can fill even the smallest cavities creating an effective air barrier. Insulation types include loose fill batts rolls foam board spray board and vapor barriers.

So starting off with one of the most common traditional insulation types fibreglass is a popular traditional insulation option on the market. It isn t sufficient protection against conduction. One that i like a lot since i built a house out of them is the structural insulated panel. Developed in the 1930s the candy floss like insulation is the go to insulation method to date.

It s a sandwich of rigid foam insulation and plywood or osb oriented strand board the flaky plywood. Proper attic insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss in the winter and retain cool air in the summer. The result is more consistent temperatures inside the living spaces throughout the winter. The type of insulation you need depends on which type is currently installed and the required r value.

A short overview many homes have attics that are completely uninsulated. Foam in place insulation can be blown into walls on attic surfaces or under floors to insulate and reduce air leakage. Professionals spray an expanding foam insulation into your attic sealing the cracks and insulating it from outside temperature variations. Traditional attic insulation and radiant barrier work together and each do their part.

The most common insulation materials are fiberglass cellulose and foam. There are other materials and systems that you can use to insulate your attic. Foam once installed is an incredibly strong adhesive so when installed in a traditional attic scenario creates a air tight thermal blanket across the ceiling of a house.