Attic insulation helps to make your home more comfortable throughout the year by preventing unwanted heat flow from the house to the attic. This allows the attic to maintain a more stable interior temperature, eliminating areas that are too hot or too cold and improving energy efficiency by keeping your furnace from working harder than necessary.

When installing new insulation, it’s important to consider a variety of factors including space configuration, the climate, and your budget. The selection of an appropriate material also is important, as different types provide varying levels of thermal resistance and installation requirements.

Best Practices for Installing Attic Insulation

For example, if you have access to the attic through a hatch, fold-back door or pull-down staircase, it is important to insulate these openings. These spaces are major sources of air leakage and can prevent the full effectiveness of the attic insulation, resulting in significant energy loss. To insulate these spaces, apply a continuous polyethylene air and vapour barrier prior to installing the insulation.

The number one attic-insulation mistake is leaving gaps or spaces. These holes allow warm air to leak into the attic, reducing the efficiency of the attic insulation and increasing energy bills. Gaps and voids also make it difficult for the attic ventilation system to do its job, contributing to moisture accumulation and the growth of mold.

To eliminate these issues, carefully follow the attic insulation installation guidelines provided by the insulation manufacturer. In particular, avoid tightly stuffing insulation into place, as this compresses the material and reduces its insulating value. If you are adding a second layer of insulation in the attic, install it perpendicular to the first to block leaking air. And remember, never lay insulation over soffit vents or recessed “can” lights.

Desert Spray Foaming
150 Fm 1429 Seminole, TX 79360
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