Should I insulate my attic floor or ceiling?

roof insulation is no-contest. The floor wins every time. Insulating the floor is standard practice for an unfinished attic space. The exception to this rule takes place when families opt to convert an unfinished attic space into something usable or livable.

Should the ceiling of an attic be insulated?

Should you insulate your attic roof? Insulation is a wise choice to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Quality insulation will make it more cost-effective to heat and cool your home, The Department of Energy's estimates range from a 10% to 50% savings, depending on several factors.

Can you insulate the attic floor and roof?

1. In unfinished attic spaces, insulate between and over the floor joists to seal off living spaces below. If the air distribution is in the attic space, then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. 2.

Can you use attic insulation in floors?

There are three common types of insulation used to insulate attic floors: fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, and cellulose. Cellulose is the best choice. The second-best choice is blown-in fiberglass.

Can you have too much insulation in your attic?

It's possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.

Things To Know Before Insulating Your Attic | Improve Comfort

Is it better to insulate ceiling or roof?

If you are deciding between insulating the roof deck or the ceiling, Insulating your ceiling should be the priority. Not only is it easier but ceiling insulation is beneficial in a number of ways: Keeps the temperature in the building regulated. Saves on energy costs.

Should I insulate between the rafters in my attic?

The general advice we give is that you should always insulate between and above the rafters (warm roof) or between and under the rafters (cold roof).

Is it worth insulating under floorboards?

'The effectiveness of floor insulation should not be underestimated,' says Jenny Turner. 'Through floors, homes can lose around 15 per cent of heat, so by insulating your floorboards, you could save on energy bills. '

Should I insulate my ceiling?

In addition to walls and attics, insulation should be installed in ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls—especially bathrooms—as well as ceilings and floors.

Should attic insulation be faced or unfaced?

Faced Insulation: If the attic doesn't have any existing insulation, use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space. Unfaced Insulation: When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation, use unfaced insulation.

How do you insulate underside of roof?

Open-cell spray polyurethane foam or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) insulation can be sprayed along the underside of the roof sheathing to provide a conditioned and insulated attic space that can be durable and efficient in all climate zones (see Figure 1).

What R-value should I have in my attic?

R-Value is a measure of insulation's ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

What type of insulation is best for floors?

Insulations boards or EPS sheets are a material that is an expanded polystyrene sheet. It is one of the best-known floor insulation materials because EPS sheets are easy to install and have a high insulation value.

Should I spray foam my attic ceiling?

Spray Foam Attic Rafters

Insulating the attic rafters with spray foam creates a conditioned space where your attic is the same temperature as the rest of your home. This keeps the external weather and moisture outside of the attic space so you don't have to worry about any moisture problems or air infiltration.

What type of insulation is best for ceilings?

Spray foam insulation is the most effective type, with a maximum R-value of 6.5 per inch.

Is it worth insulating internal ceilings?

By insulating your ceiling, you avoid heat losses and an unnecessarily high energy bill. Warm air rises, but by means of ceiling insulation you can keep the warmth inside and reduce sounds. It is an efficient and quite cheap way to improve the energy performance of your house.

Does ceiling insulation reduce heat?

Insulation helps prevent heat loss in winter

An under insulated home in winter can lose up to 35% of your expensive internal warmth through the ceilings, another 25% through the walls and up to 20% through the floor and windows. That's a lot of expensive hot air to lose.

Is it better to insulate ceiling or walls?

wall insulation, always go for the attic. The largest pay back will be seen here. You would stop heat loss from natural convection and block solar gain (an increase in heat) in the attic, which can result in energy savings of 30 to 50 percent. You won't see as big of a return on investment by insulating walls.

Does attic insulation make a big difference?

One of the places in your home where a little bit of attention can make a big difference in your comfort — and heating bill — is the attic. According to the Department of Energy, properly insulating the attic can save 10 to 50 percent on a typical heating bill.

Do you have to remove old insulation before installing new?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet.

What R-value do I need for ceiling?

Depending on where you live and the part of your home you're insulating (walls, crawlspace, attic, etc.), you'll need a different R-Value. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.