Attic insulation means that your entire house is not the potential target of the intense summertime weather and hence the temperature inside the house remains steady at all times irrespective of what the outside weather brings in. Attic insulation is no extensive renovation job, if you believe you can manage it on your own, then take it upon yourself to fix it or call upon a professional and he/she will do the job for you within a short period of time. In case, you want to save money and also wish to be assured of energy efficiency, then we suggest you go for it. Attic insulation does not mean digging huge holes and placing huge sheets of fiberglass or cotton or even cellulose or paper in them. The term implies that it is a system that seals the attic and makes the temperature inside the house uniform.
Attic insulation is done by professionals and is considered to be a safe alternative to putting up sheet metal or even wood. The results are not only good but also long lasting and economical, if the system is installed properly and in the right manner. So, whenever you hear the term "installed" rather say "insulated" and when you see the difference in temperature, you will realise that the former is far better than the latter.
Attic insulation's R-value defines its level of effectiveness. This means that a square foot of attic insulation would ensure the R-value of the entire house. Attic insulation's R-value is dependent upon the number of inches that need to be covered with insulation. You can get help from a thermal engineer and he will guide you as to how many inches of fiberglass, cellulose or paper need to be filled in order to make the desired temperature. You also need to know about R-values of other materials that go into the installation, for example the plywood or metal sheets that are used for attic insulation.
The proper attic insulation is one way to control the energy consumption in the home. Attic insulation works on the principle of resistance to heat. Since the attic space is free from air, it has the highest absorption of heat and loses less energy. For this reason, it is a perfect place for proper insulation.
Attic insulation doesn't have to be a difficult DIY project. You can get great results if you plan it out properly and if you know exactly what you are doing. There are different insulation types for different climate and weather conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to choose the right one for your house or building. Here are some of the different insulation types that you can consider for DIY projects:
- Fiberglass. This type of insulation is perfect for insulated exterior walls, but it is best suited for the foundations of homes or buildings, such as concrete walls and column walls. It is a fairly good insulator, although it can decrease the structural integrity of your house. Nevertheless, fiberglass is a fairly good insulator, especially in comparison to other materials.
- Chimney Insulation. It is an option for insulating roofs as well as external walls. It is important to note that chimneys are susceptible to moisture buildup, so make sure to ventilate it properly. However, this type of insulation does not offer very good thermal performance. On the other hand, it does have the advantage of providing excellent moisture insulation, which can help reduce condensation buildup in living spaces.
- Spray foam. This is a good choice for insulating the attic or any other structure, as it contains tiny bubbles that form a seal when they are sprayed into a core. This type of insulation provides good R-value, as it effectively captures and holds heat. However, spray foam is only effective in preventing heat transfer. Once sprayed, it is impossible to remove, as the tiny bubbles in the foam cannot be removed by water. Thus, it is ineffective in reducing the temperature inside the attic.