Insulating Your Attic Choices and Options
An attic can be one of the primary sources for potential heat loss in your home and insulating it properly can maintain a comfortable environment during the frigid winter months and in the heat of summer as well.
In an unfinished attic, your main goal is to keep the rooms below warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Insulating the floors of your attic will ensure the comfort of the lower floors of your home.
If your attic is finished, on the alternative, you would want to insulate it as you would the rest of the home, insulating both the floors and the walls.
There are quite a few options out there as far as choices for insulation so depending on your needs & price point some options may work better for you than others.
There is a rating system in place for insulation products. It’s called the R-Rating and is a rating system based on the insulating materials resistance to conductive heat flow in terms of its thermal resistance. The higher the R- value the greater the insulating effectiveness. In addition to the type of insulation, thickness & density also affect an insulation’s rating.
Below are a few of the most common types of Insulation and some facts about each one.
Fiberglass Insulation is the most common insulation made from finely spun glass. With an R-value of 3.1 it is also non flammable. The biggest challenge comes from handling the batts or blankets of fiberglass. Since it is made of glass it can get into eyes, lungs and irritate the skin if one is not properly handling it. Great price point $
Mineral Wool Insulation comes in three specific varieties: Glass Wool, Rock/Stone Wool or Slag Wool. These types of insulation have an R- rating of 3.1 and can be purchased in batts or as loose insulation making it versatile in its uses. It is not however fire resistant. But if used with other fire resistant materials can be a good choice. Slightly higher price point than the fiberglass. $$
Cellulose is one of the most environmentally friendly options for insulation as it is made of recycled paper, cardboard, and other similar materials. It comes in loose fill and can also be blown in. It is one of the most fire retardant insulation options out there. So not only is it environmentally friendly it is fire resistant as well. With an R-rating of 3.7 and a decent price point this is a great option for insulation purposes. $$FURNACES2019 TRENDS FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS TO LOOK FOR