If you have found that your heating costs are going through the roof, chances are they literally are. If you do not have a properly insulated attic, all that heat is just going to escape through your roof. It’s actually pretty easy to install insulation in an attic, but we do recommend having someone help you for safety reasons.
Picking the Insulation –
You’ll need to find out what the insulation rating is for your home and what is recommended for your area. Basically, you really can’t have insulation that is too strong, so go a little higher than normal if necessary. For most attics, we recommend the batting type of insulation, simply because if you ever plan on renovating your attic in the future, it will be a lot easier than having to deal with blown in insulation. However, if your attic space is very small and not conducive to fixing up, blow in insulation will be the easiest.
It is important to select an insulation that comes with a vapor barrier. Humidity gets into insulation and ruins it, so you want to do all that you can to prevent it. Even the driest climates still have some moisture in the air, so it is best to err on the side of caution and get the insulation with the vapor barrier. It is a bit more expensive, but you won’t need to replace it as often since it will hold up better.
Installing the Insulation –
Once you’ve picked out the insulation you’re going to use, you’ll need to prep the attic. If it doesn’t have a finished floor and most don’t, we recommend carting plywood sheets up there to lay across the beams. It is simply too difficult and dangerous to try to straddle and balance on those beams while you’re working. If you can’t find plywood that can withstand your weight, go with a nice thick board that can be easily moved around.
Once you have that board or plywood in place, you can begin bringing up the insulation. If you’re using batting, start unrolling it and tucking it into place between the beams. Make sure that all of the empty spaces are completely covered. If your attic does not have insulate walls, you’re going to want to take care of those as well. Some prefer to use strips of insulation padding for both floors and walls in attics, but the choice is up to you.
Make sure that you wear the proper safety equipment, such as goggles and gloves while you are installing your insulation. It contains tiny fiberglass fibers that can cut you and hurt your eyes if it gets in there. If you are using blow in insulation, we recommend goggles, a mask and gloves.
To install blow in insulation (see picture), rent a blower, and get a secure spot where you can stand in the attic without being covered in insulation. Start in the far corner and keep blowing it in until the floor is completely covered. You should now find that your heating costs are greatly reduced and your house will feel a lot warmer.
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