Insulating your attic is important to prevent unwanted heat loss or gain. But proper attic insulation can do much more than protecting your home indoors from the extreme temperatures outdoors. A properly installed insulation will also prevent moisture from forming on the roof. There is a lot more that should be expected from the perfect attic upgrade.

Meaning of a Properly Insulated Attic

A perfectly insulated attic will deliver the following benefits:
1) It will help bring fresh air from outdoors

2) It will have a vapour barrier between the interior surface and insulation for preventing condensation from getting into the roof

3) The attic should be able to eliminate all the hot air accumulating in it

If the hot air isn’t allowed to escape from the attic, it will force your cooling system to work harder, which means enhanced energy bills.

If the attic is not properly insulated, ice dams could form during winters and cause damage to the roof. If there are no vents already, make sure to get them added when upgrading the insulation. It is important that the vents are not covered.

Things to Insulate during an Upgrade

If your attic is used for storage purposes, the attic floor must be insulated. This will prevent warm air from getting trapped below stairs. If the insulation has been there for many years, there is a very good chance that it has been compressed and has become ineffective. In this case an upgrade may mean just rolling over new insulation atop the old one. It is important that the attic be well ventilated at all times. Else you could prevent the circulation of air.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose fibre is a commonly used insulation material for attic upgrades. The best thing about the material is that it is finely ground and can be easily blown into all the areas of the attic without missing on any gaps. You will get a better and more comprehensive finish compared to other options, which means negligible leakage and more energy efficiency.

Another advantage of using cellulose fibre insulation is that it doesn’t get affected by wind-wash, at least not as much as its fibreglass counterparts. Wind-wash refers to air currents flowing through the insulation material and decreasing its R-value. If you choose a fibreglass alternative, fibreglass batts enclosed in specially designed perforated bags can prove to be more effective against wind-wash. Loose-fill fibreglass insulation and open batts cannot offer better resistance and degrade faster.

When upgrading your attic’s insulation, keep in mind that different types of insulation could be installed over other types. So new cellulose insulation could go over old fibreglass or new fibreglass could go over old cellulose insulation. But make sure that your installer encases them into perforated bags. If this is not done, it could lead to condensation and gradual degradation and mould development after some time.

So if you are considering an attic upgrade, keep these points in mind.