Having been a handyman for many years, one of the most common homeowner mistakes I run across is being under-insulated, not understanding the types of insulation or the correct methods for applying it. By far the most efficient insulation on the market is the spray foam type. The R-factor (the most common rating for insulation effectiveness) for spray foam insulation is much higher per square inch than other styles. The major down side to spray foam is cost. It is much more expensive per square inch. But it pays for itself quickly in energy savings.

Now let’s turn our attention to other types of insulation that a typical homeowner can install. There are two major types of insulation that are common besides spray foam. They are fiberglass and loose fill. Different areas and jobs require different types.

For this discussion, I’ll focus on the most under-insulated area in most houses, the attic. The thing to consider when thinking about the amount of insulation required in this area is what the attic is being used for. If it is not being used for living space, the most efficient form will be loose fill. Why? Because you can create a blanket of material that you can fill over the joists. Remember this important fact when thinking insulation: thickness creates air pockets. This is basic. You don’t want to compact it because air space is important for it to function properly. Rule 1 in the insulation game is “the thicker the better.”

If you want to use our attic for storage and put a floor down, then you will want to use fiberglass. You can buy fiberglass with a paper backing applied, generally called kraft-backed, or without a backing. If you are going to use fiberglass in an area that backs up to a heated room, then remember to install the paper backed product with the paper side toward the heated area. If applying in an attic above a heated room, the paper should be face down to create a moisture barrier. All you need to do when using fiberglass insulation is determine the size of the lumber the insulation is going to be placed between. The packaging will clearly show which product should be used. Don’t buy thicker material than required and stuff it in!  You will lose insulation value because you are eliminating air space within the product.

This conversation has focused on insulating the attic floor. If you are considering insulating your attic rafters, please take some time to speak to the pros in your area. Roofs attract a lot of sunlight and can get very hot. Installing insulation incorrectly could damage your structure.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 4:23 pm and is filed under Staging / Home Prep. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.