Some Advice On Insulating An Attic
Having an attic that is large enough to be considered part of your living space in your home is a great asset and will increase the value of your home. It is square footage that would otherwise be unused if the roof were to be too low. But it can be an uninviting part of your home if it has no insulation, too hot in summer months and too cold during the winter. This is where insulating an attic comes in. In no time you can have a cozy extra bedroom or office to enjoy. Proper insulation may require insulating existing walls as you prepare the attic space.
Attic Flooring
The flooring of an attic will most likely already have insulation installed. If it is foam core panels or spray foam material this can most likely be overlaid with flooring such as plywood. If the type of insulation in the attic is blown in and loose however, this will need to be removed and replaced with something safer and more substantial.
Sheets of foam or polyurethane are a very effective insulating medium as well as being light in weight. Place the insulation between the rafters, then apply sheets of plywood or particle board on the rafters. Installing some carpeting will give you a floor for your new space.
Attic Walls & Ceiling
The walls of your attic may not be very high, depending on the overall dimensions of the space you have to work with. There should, ideally, be enough height to stand up, at least in the center of the space. These walls and the ceiling can be insulated by the same materials used on the floor with perhaps double thickness of foam core panels applied to the ceiling for extra protection from heat and cold radiating down from the roof. Attic ventilation is vital to avoid mildew. Add some wall boarding to the walls and paint or apply wallpaper. The ceiling will need to be wired for a light (if one is to be installed) or just nail up some wall boarding to the roof rafters securely, covering the insulation. The vents will help circulate air unless it is too cold, then they should be shut off.
Attic Door or Hatch
When insulating an attic keep in mind the entrance to an attic is usually a hatch door with a pull down or descending stairway. This door should be made of sufficiently solid material (wood or insulated plastic door) so that a heated attic space will not lose its warmth. This opening can be left open in order to add heat (or cool air) to that area if necessary. Just keep in mind that if that attic space is not well insulated, the opening can affect the rest of your home.
Installing and insulating an attic and adding all of this insulation to the interior of your attic space means you need to be careful while applying some of these materials. Read the instructions and follow the directions very carefully. Some of the foam products are hazardous and can cause lung and respiratory complications so be careful when you purchase them. Ask the knowledgeable sales help at your local home improvement store for information on attic ventilation as well as help in choosing safe products for your new attic space insulation project.
