Should I Insulate My Attic Floor Or Ceiling

A properly done spray foam job not only insulates but also greatly reduces the air leakage of.

Should i insulate my attic floor or ceiling.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Start with the attic floor. If someone spends a lot of time in the garage insulating it may improve their comfort even if it doesn t lower any bills. Homeowners also should insulate a garage completely including in the attic above it.

Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. The extra batting increases r values so it further slows warm air. So insulating the floor of the attic is not only the best solution but it is also the simplest and cheapest. Spray foam insulation is an incomplete name.

1a attic access door. To get a better air seal. 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. It really should be called spray foam insulation and air barrier.

Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new. While local codes vary many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished. Some attic floors that already have a layer of insulation could benefit from an additional application over the existing layer. In practical terms you can choose between mineral wool or insulation boards.

The headroom in the attic will determine how much usable floor space you have. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. If it is and you plan to provide heating and cooling to the finished attic space you need to remove. The attic floor which is the ceiling of the living space below often already is insulated.

Insulation level are specified by r value. Earlier in this article we referenced this contractor who said that homeowners commonly insulate their ceilings but not necessarily their roof. 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.

Stop using your attic for storage. The final word ceiling insulation is the most important. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Once you deal with the air up there this problem goes away with or without the insulation in the attic floor.

Insulating the attic floor. If you do not use the attic much it is pointless heating this area.