If you’ve ever poked your head into your attic, you’ve likely found mounds of fluffy insulation. This material plays a vital role in home comfort and energy conservation, so it’s important to ensure you have enough. You can use the guide below to help you determine if all of your home’s needs are being met.

Your Guide to Attic Insulating

What does this material do?

Attic insulation reduces thermal transfer in a home. This means that it keeps cool air in and hot air out during the summer, and does the opposite during winter. Reducing this transfer keeps your home at a comfortable temperature and reduces your need to run the HVAC system more than necessary.

How much do I need?

R-value can help determine the amount of insulation you need because it measures a material’s resistance to heat. The average home needs an R-value between R-30 and R-49. Higher R-values may be needed in colder climates.

A professional can measure the amount of insulation your space will require based on the R-value. The value is applied to inches; an attic material will have an R-value of x/inch. You can multiply this number to determine how many inches you should purchase to achieve your desired R-value.

What type should I install?

There are several types of insulation. Blankets come in large rolls and can be cut and pressed between joints and beams. Attics that are difficult to move around in will do better with loose-fill material, which is also called shredded blanket insulation. This material is blown through a hose to cover all of the surfaces, and it may also be used with blanket products.

Spray-foam is the most expensive and effective option. Professionals spray a loose foam that will fill every crevice of the attic and then expand. It creates an excellent barrier with long-lasting efficacy.

Can I do the job myself?

It can be tempting to handle home improvement projects on your own, but installing insulation is best left to the professionals. They’ll know how to pick the best material for your attic, in addition to determining how much you’ll need. They’ll also carefully apply the recommended insulation so that it covers all areas.

Ready to upgrade your attic’s insulation? American Roofing in Anchorage, AK, provides both insulating and roofing services for residential and commercial clients. This roofing contractor will carefully assess your home’s needs and then create solutions to fulfill all of them. You can schedule a consultation by calling (907) 345-8700 or explore their services further by visiting their website.