If you aren’t the do-it-yourselfer type who enjoys home improvement projects and has some experience and skill with them, it might be best to leave attic insulation to a well-qualified professional, like those at Simply the Best Heating & Cooling. While you might not think your attic needs insulation in areas like Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, or Gilbert, insulation works to keep cool air inside the home in the same way that warm air is retained in a cooler climate. There a few different types of home attic insulation and a question that we get asked a lot is, “What is the best type of insulation for my attic?” Here’s what you need to know about installing attic insulation.
Types and Methods of Insulation
Blanket Insulation
Probably the most popular form of insulation is known as blanket insulation, and its popularity is partly due to how easy it is to work with. When you’re working with this kind of insulation however, you should be sure to keep covered, because when your skin comes in contact with it, itchiness can develop. Recycled insulation is an environmentally friendly alternative which does not make your skin feel uncomfortable or itchy when contact is made. There’s no real difference with the installation of either type, but there is a definite difference in the handling comfort between the two.
Loose-Fill Insulation
Loose-fill insulation can be blown in with the use of a special machine which distributes loose-fill cellulose all throughout the framing of the attic, in all the obvious places, and especially in nooks and crannies, which can’t really be addressed by blanket insulation. The big advantage of this insulation method is that it can be very thorough in its coverage, and thus its effectiveness. However, this is probably not a method you would undertake as a homeowner, if for no other reason, because you wouldn’t have the necessary equipment.
Spray Foam Insulation
Another insulation method calls for the use of sprayed foam polyurethane. The big appeal of this insulation type is that it does not intrude on the living space to any real degree, so if you’re intending to use the attic as a finished room, this would be a good choice, especially since in this case, the actual insulation is done to the roof, not the attic. The polyurethane molds itself to every part of the roof’s interior, creating a highly effective barrier between inside and outside, with great retention properties. The downside of this method would probably be its higher cost, which runs as much as twice the cost of an ordinary insulation strategy.
Level of insulation
While the appropriate level of insulation varies across climatic regions, a good rule of thumb is insulating to R-50 or R-60 for a high degree of retention. If you have existing insulation, you need only insulate to the difference between R-50 and what you already have, and for all new insulation you’d need the full amount. For further guidance on how much insulation to install in your geographic area of the country, consult your local heating and cooling contractor.