How To Add Extra Insulation In Attic

Put on goggles and gloves to protect yourself while handling.

How to add extra insulation in attic.

Then pivot in place and do the same thing to the other side. Check the depth using a tape measure. Move across the attic until you ve hit your desired height at every point. Fill all cracks between the living area and the attic with caulk or expanding foam.

Turn off the power to the outlet. Measure how much insulation you already have. Carry a batt to the far end of the attic. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet.

Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. Blow in insulation until the hopper is empty. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates.

Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall. Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation. Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used.

See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets and vice versa. Don t cover can lights unless they are rated for contact with insulation. Use cardboard or rigid foam baffles to keep soffit vents open.

Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all. Add the right kind of insulation. For the center areas hold the hose level and blow in insulation evenly until you ve reached your level lines photo 6. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic.

Start at the lowest part of the attic where the roof meets the outer wall and unroll the insulation perpendicular to the joists back toward the. Cost effective way to save energy with this old house general contractor tom silva. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help. Install fiberglass batts over existing batt insulation.