H ouses can lose a lot of heat from attic space; statistics reveal that over 80 percent of heat is lost from this area alone. Poorly insulated houses wastes a lot of energy as well as owner's money on expensive heating instruments and corresponding energy bills. Besides that, a little bit of fiberglass insulation or of other material also won't do any good. On the other hand, properly insulated attics with the right material that has an R-value of 30 can dramatically cut down energy bills and offering a good warm environment.
Some houses have gray material between the joists or blown-in cellulose; either way the attic space can be insulated over it for efficiency. If the old insulation reaches the top of the joists, it should be installed perpendicular to the joists. When little insulation is installed, its efficiency can be increased by filling-up the space between the joists. For a uniform insulation of desired depth, it is convenient to install a gauge in the attic.
A material's insulating ability is measured in its R-value. Higher Rvalue means better heat insulating property. Today's houses demands an R-value of more than 35, however it might slightly differ according to the location. Determine the amount of insulation you need from the Department of Energy website. Now, decide on the type and material of insulation that best fits the requirement and budget. Blown-in insulation are a great inexpensive choice to increase insulation efficiency but installation could be messy. With a little bit of trouble and courage, attic insulation can be accomplished with a DIY project.
Here are some insulation option for better efficiency : Fiberglass : Flexible fiberglass is a brilliant product to increase insulation efficiency. However, look for recycled content that are formaldehyde free. For ceiling or exterior walls in wood or metal framing, choose Owens Corning unfaced insulation. It is dimensionally stable and won't decay in the cavity.
Cellulose : Cellulose is green. Made from 80 percent recycled newspaper and 20 percent fiber, chemically treated with non toxic borate compound to make it fire resistant and hinder mold, insect growth. It is readily available, easy to install and is as good as fiberglass insulation.
Cellulose Insulation
Mineral wool : Mineral wool is made from molten glass, slag that is spun into a fiber structure. Almost 98 percent of the material is made from inorganic rock and slag and rest 2 percent is resin binder, adhesive and oil. When doing-it-yourself, get the right gears such as gloves, eye glasses and particle masks especially if working with fiberglass insulation. Although rigid foam is easier to install, but fiberglass is easier to get it up to the attic. Fiberglass batt insulation may seem thin but they usually expand to 6 inches after some time.
Now that the desired insulation is achieved, there is one more simple way to increase R-value, i.e. by adding and 'attic blanket'. Just lay it over the joists and keep adding as many layer you need to get the recommended R-38. Author's Bio : Insulation4US is one of the biggest supplier of insulation products with an extensive range of quality products line including Owens Corning, Roxul , RMax Polyiso insulation and more.
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