Best Attic Insulation Options

The attic is the easiest place to insulate and the most important in terms of saving money and energy.

Best attic insulation options.

I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Closed cell and open cell aka 2 pound and pound respectively. Messy unsightly and can be very expensive cost.

Department of energy polystyrene insulation comes in rigid foam boards that make it easy to insulate any part of a building. Modern technology of blanket insulation today is considered the best insulation for attic. Material costs and going with diy the open cell costs about 600 to cover 1 000 sq. Spray foam offers the best attic insulation performance available.

Some installations can yield a higher r value than traditional batt insulation for the same thickness and can fill even the smallest cavities creating an effective air barrier. It s generally 3 to 4 times what you ll pay for blown cellulose or fiberglass. Sealing large air leaks is next followed by insulating the basement. Spray foam attic insulation.

Yet polystyrene is a fabulous insulator with r values that range from r 3 8 to r 4 4 per inch of thickness and so it s considered green because it helps save so much energy source. They sport insulation values of approximately r 6 5 and r 3 6 per inch respectively. For interior insulation this provides perhaps the greatest r value and with proper installation it covers gaps better than most options cons. Among commonly used types of insulation there are mineral wool or fiberglass rolls and batts rigid fiberglass board loose fill materials cellulose mineral wool etc.

A federal energy tax credit can help homeowners recoup their insulation investment if they complete the improvements by the end of 2007. The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost. Fiberglass insulation is calculated based on the number of batts or rolls you need. Proper attic insulation is the best way to prevent heat loss in the winter and retain cool air in the summer.

So it s time to pay close attention to what s happening up there. Choose from two types. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Fiberglass insulation in rolls or batts can be easily added by the homeowner. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. Rolls and batts are produced of mineral wool and fiberglass. Ft while closed cell comes in at 1 200.

In fact it s a form of plastic. Polystyrene doesn t sound like a green material. Blown in insulation requires the least amount of work but requires special tools and equipment.