How To Add Extra Insulation To The Attic

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.

How to add extra insulation to the attic.

Fill all cracks between the living area and the attic with caulk or expanding foam. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. Use cardboard or rigid foam baffles to keep soffit vents open. Move across the attic until you ve hit your desired height at every point.

Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet. Measure how much insulation you already have.

A tightly sealed house is just as important as insulation. It s safer to build a small enclosure with hardware cloth or plywood to keep loose insulation away from lights and exhaust fans. Check the depth using a tape measure. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic.

How to add extra insulation to an attic. Then pivot in place and do the same thing to the other side. Turn off the power to the outlet. For the center areas hold the hose level and blow in insulation evenly until you ve reached your level lines photo 6.

It needs to be unfaced. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall. Blow in insulation until the hopper is empty. Put on goggles and gloves to protect yourself while handling.

Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help. Cost effective way to save energy with this old house general contractor tom silva. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets and vice versa.

If you use fiberglass over loose fill make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing. See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. An adequately insulated attic reduces your home s energy costs by keeping warm air in during the winter and hot air out during the summer. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old.