My Attic Needs Insulation

In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49.

My attic needs insulation.

Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor joists i e you can easily see your joists you should add more. After confirming that your attic is air sealed you need to select insulation. Type and material of your insulation.

Inspecting your attic insulation. You can do it yourself for about 500. If you notice one or more of these occurring you probably need to take action. Insulation level are specified by r value.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. There are four especially common signs of problems with attic insulation.

If you need to add insulation in your attic save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself. Contractor or insulation installer s fee. Blown in insulation overview. No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. This is more expensive and usually requires a contractor but it may be worth the cost especially if you live in a very cold climate. According to home advisor insulating your attic can cost between 1700 to 2100.

If your attic has enough insulation and proper air sealing and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.

First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. How much does attic insulation cost. There are many types to choose from including blown in cellulose batt such as fiberglass mineral wool or cotton. Common signs of problems with insulation.