Asked by: Sharice Berenguer
home and garden indoor environmental quality

Should you insulate the roof of an attic?

Last Updated: 16th January, 2020

40
A finished attic should be insulatedmuchlike the rest of the house, with insulation in the wallsandceiling. If your attic is already finished, it probablyisat least partially insulated. However, mostolderattics are under-insulated so it's a good ideatoraise the R-value where possible.

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In respect to this, does roof insulation make a difference?

The biggest difference between these two typesofinsulation is where they are installed.Atticinsulation is installed in the ceiling plane, whileroofinsulation is installed on the roof slope itself,aboveand below the rafters.

Likewise, should I remove old attic insulation before adding new? According to ENERGY STAR®, you can putnewinsulation over old insulation, “unless itis wet.“Faced” insulation should not be placedon topof existing insulation in the attic. Anynewroll or batt insulation installed overexistinginsulation in the attic needs to be without avaporretarder (face).

Beside this, will adding insulation attic make difference?

Homes that are not properly insulated can loseupto 20 percent of the conditioned air. Essentially, 20 percentofthe cost of heating and cooling the home is simply lost throughtheattic in many homes. Attic insulation increasetheeffectiveness of your home's envelope to retain cooled andheatedair.

Should you insulate roof rafters?

The insulation should not be installed intheroof rafters unless the ceiling finishes areapplieddirectly to the roof rafters. There is no advantageininsulating a cold attic from the cold outdoors.Instead,always insulate the floors, walls, andceilings thatseparate the warm interior from the coldattic.

Related Question Answers

Chifae Gurrieri

Professional

How long does roof insulation last?

Typical Insulation Lifespan
The International Association of CertifiedHomeInspectors states that spray foam insulation, wrap tapeandhousewrap insulation can last for more than 80years.At the same time, cellulose, loose-fill, foamboard, loosefill androck wool insulation can last up to100years.

Ansoumana Pattabhiraman

Professional

Can you over insulate your attic?

Can You Over-Insulate YourMinneapolisHome? If a home is over-insulatedand is tootightly sealed, moisture can get trapped inside.Withoutproper ventilation, a home can build up toomuchmoisture, especially in the attic (warm air rises),whichcan cause mold problems and, overall, lower indoorairquality.

Timothee Rummel

Professional

What is the best roof insulation?

Roof Insulation products like Isotherm arethemost eco-friendly insulation products on the market.The145mm Isotherm insulation is SANS compliant and isthebest insulation for your roof.

Habibur Tiedje

Explainer

What type of roof insulation is best?

Blanket insulation — The most common formofloft insulation, this comes in rolls of rock, glassormineral fibre, or else foil-backed felt. It's generallythecheapest option and a good all-purposeinsulation,especially for between joists. It's the easiesttype to fit,but isn't suitable for theroof.

Alexi Astiasaran

Explainer

What is the best insulation for an attic?

What's going to perform the best is definitelynotthe most cost-effective way to insulate an attic.Butsurely, you already knew that. And no, I didn't call youShirley.First, let's discuss the most common types ofinsulationavailable for attics; spray foam,loose-fill fiberglass,cellulose, and fiberglassbatts.

Luay Villwock

Explainer

How much money can you save by insulating your attic?

Adding Attic Insulation Saves YouMoney.Add attic insulation to lower heating and coolingcosts byas much as $600 per year. Save about$600/year byboosting the amount of attic insulationfrom R-11to R-49.

Sharyl Ruckpaul

Pundit

How many inches of insulation should you have in your attic?

R-Value is a measure ofinsulation'sability to resist heat flow. The higherthe R-Value,the better the thermal performanceof theinsulation. The recommended level for mostatticsis to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14inches,depending on insulation type.

Wilhelmine Naselli

Pundit

How much does it cost to insulate a 1000 sq ft attic?

Therefore, when calculating costs and laborfor1000 square feet of attic space, theaveragehomeowner should expect to pay: $500 - $1,000for materials.About $100 for equipment rental (which issometimes offeredfor free with the purchase of a set amount ofinsulation)For a total of $600 - $1,200.

Loan Isangulov

Pundit

Will insulating attic keep house cooler?

Heat always moves toward cold, not the other wayaround.This means if you run the air conditioner to keepyour homecool in the summer, insulation helpskeep hotair from making its way inside. Radiant barrierinsulationis installed under the roofline, helping your homereflect (ratherthan absorb) heat from the sun.

Predrag Bossel

Pundit

Can I put new insulation on top of old?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can putnewinsulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet.Thevapor retarder on top of or between layers ofinsulationcan trap moisture. Any existing batt or rollinsulationin the attic should have the facing against theattic drywall flooror no facing at all.

Claudiane Ghulam

Teacher

Why is it so hot in my attic?

It is imperative to have enough soffit vents relativetothe size of the attic. With enough exhaust vents andintakevents, your attic has breathing room and is bettercooled.Another reason your attic is so hot is becauseofinsulation. Not the overabundance, but the lack of insulationinthe attic.

Jihane Jansch

Teacher

How much does it cost to insulate a 1500 sq ft house?

There is little learning curve involved withtheapplication, and a DIY job will cost you about $500.Callingin the pros, on the other hand, will run you about $1,500 to$2,000for an average 1500 square foot home.

Jeanne Rotel

Teacher

When should I replace attic insulation?

Foam insulation can settle after a year andmayneed to be replaced to keep it fluffy andinsulatingproperly. Older homes, including any and all homesbuilt in the1970s or earlier, should definitely get theirinsulationreplaced, especially if the insulationhasn't been replacedsince the 1970s.

Nafissa Dieck

Teacher

How much does it cost to insulate attic?

It can cost anywhere from $1,700 to $2,100orbetween $1.50 and $3.50 per foot to insulate anatticdepending on what insulation material youchoose. Blown-ininsulation is the least expensive option andideal for olderattics. Spray foam, while the most expensive,is best fornoise reduction and new construction.

Medardo Adaixo

Reviewer

Do you need attic ventilation with spray foam insulation?

Most don't. They know roofing materials,underlayments,flashing, and attic ventilation. Some knowmore than others,of course, but you should probably assumethe worst any timea roofer comes to your spray foaminsulated home. Sealedattics should not have anytype of atticventilation connecting it to theoutside.

Jinli Schutzendiebel

Reviewer

How can you tell if insulation is bad?

Know the Warning Signs!
  1. Trouble in the Attic.
  2. Out of Control Energy Bills.
  3. Not Such a Winter Wonderland.
  4. Hot and Cold Rooms.
  5. The Condition of Your Current Insulation.
  6. Cracks in the Wrong Places.
  7. A Place for Pests and Moisture.

Luisina Chueco

Reviewer

How do you insulate attic hatch?

First, install foam weather stripping on the insideofthe trim or directly onto the hatch. Cut out two piecesofrigid foam board that are 1/4-inch smaller than thehatch,so homeowners can slide the attic access panelopen easily.Attach the two layers of foam board together, and applythem to thehatch.

Eliecer Vadlamani

Supporter

How much does spray foam insulation cost?

Spray foam is available in two differenttypes:open-cell spray foam which is usually $1.00 to $1.20persquare foot and closed-cell spray foam which is about$1.25to $1.50 per square foot (1″ by 12″ x 12″area ofcoverage).

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