Did you know that 30% of the heat you lose from your home could be through your attic? Losing heat through your roof will eventually crawl up on your household expenses paying more for energy usage. One of the simplest methods you can use to save heat and costs this winter is by insulating your attic. While your home might be having some sort of insulation already, in case it is in poor condition; then it is recommended that you have it removed and replaced with fresh insulation. Getting a professional attic insulation Toronto service to complete this task is recommended, however, if you are determined to do it by yourself, we have outlined some steps to help you make the best out of this process.
What Insulation to Use in Attic
When most people think about insulating their attics, they often think of fibreglass insulation since it’s the standard insulation material used for walls and joist cavities when constructing. However, fibreglass insulation has its limitations when it comes to retrofit applications, and it is advisable that homeowners consider blow-in insulation.
Loose-fill insulation or blow in insulation refers to the process of filling joint cavities or stud, or covering attic floors with any kind of loose material that specifically has good insulation value. There are some materials that can be used such as loose fibreglass fibres or Styrofoam pellets, however, the most common material that is often used for blow-in applications is cellulose material.
Adding insulation in an attic can be done by hauling unfaced rolls of fibreglass insulation into the attic and then unrolling them to form some sort of uninterrupted blanket across the attic floor. This can be a hectic process and especially if your attic has a small access hatch. Using blow in insulation offers a much faster method of significantly improving your insulation across the floor of your attic. Using this method, your attic insulation experts can blow a thick blanket of loose insulation across your floor by using a single hose that can be run up through the attic hatch. This kind of insulation is prevalent with green-friendly homeowners who prefer green products since the material is made up of entirely recycled wood and paper products.
How to install insulation in the attic
When you decide to use blow-in insulation for your attic, the installation crew will in most occasions consists of two individuals. One of them will be in the attic with the blower hose, spraying the fluffed-up insulation across the floor into the cavities of the attic. This type of insulation will generally settle down around any attic obstructions.
The other insulation service technician will be on the other end operating the blower unit from outside or an interior room depending on the design of your house. They will continuously keep feeding bales or bags or cellulose to the hopper ensuring that the air mixture is controlled so that the hoses are blowing freely. Together, they will add a layer of insulation to a thickness that will achieve the desired R-value expected. In case your attic already has a layer of fibreglass, the additional blow -in insulation will be an addition right on top of the fibreglass material.
Although this material is relatively fireproof, it is sometimes subject to smouldering when it is exposed to fire or heat conditions. This is a concern in the attic, and especially around recessed light fixture canisters. Therefore, before blowing in attic insulation, it’s always wise to get an opinion from a professional insulation company, they will be in a better position to advise on how to deal with heat issues.
How much insulation is required in an attic?
No matter what kind of insulation you have in your attic at the moment, the quickest way you can determine if you need more added is to check across the span of your attic. In case your insulation is just a level or below your floor joists, meaning that you can easily see your joists, then you need to add more insulation. But, in case you are unable to see any insulation on the floor joists because your insulation is well above them, then you probably have enough insulation, and adding more won’t be a cost-effective measure.
It is important to note that the insulation level needs to be evenly distributed with absolutely no low spots. In some instances, you will discover that there is enough insulation in the middle of the attic and very little insulation along the eaves of the attic. In case you are unsure or have no idea how to perform this task, contacting an insulation service is a great way to ensure that the job is done perfectly. However, if your attic insulation is at level with your joists and is evenly distributed across the floor, then you probably have enough insulation.
How much insulation is enough?
The levels of your insulation are usually determined by the R-Value. The R-Value, in this case, is the measure of your insulations ability to resist heat flow in the attic. Therefore, the higher the R-value, the better the thermal performance you will have for your insulation. The recommended levels for your attic is normally capped at R-38 or about 10-15 inches; this normally depends on the insulation type.
It is important that you add the right kind of insulation to your attic when insulating. It is not a must that you use the same kind of insulation that had previously been used on your attic. It’s acceptable to add loose fill on top of the already insulated fibreglass material. In case you are using loose fill to insulate your attic, it might be a wise idea to call in the experts; this is because this application will require the use of a blowing machine. While some home improvement stores offer these machines for rent, it’s more effective to have an experienced professional handle this task.
Insulating your attic before winter has its benefits, aside from keeping away rodents and ensuring your house is structurally healthy, insulation will help you save up to 30% on your energy costs on heating during winter. Call us if you need a professional attic insulation: 647-931-6385.