My Attic Needs Insulation

Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.

My attic needs insulation.

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. Blown in insulation overview. You can do it yourself for about 500. 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.

Insulation level are specified by r value. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Icicles may look pretty but they could also be a sign that something is seriously wrong with your roof. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Inspecting your attic insulation. There are four especially common signs of problems with attic insulation. There are many types to choose from including blown in cellulose batt such as fiberglass mineral wool or cotton.

How much does attic insulation cost. After confirming that your attic is air sealed you need to select insulation. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. 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.

Square footage of your attic. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. 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. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. According to home advisor insulating your attic can cost between 1700 to 2100. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor joists i e you can easily see your joists you should add more. If you need to add insulation in your attic save big by blowing in cellulose insulation yourself.

Type and material of your insulation. The main factors that impact the cost are. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. 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.