Do I Need Sidewall Insulation In Attic

Divide the side wall square footage by the coverage per bag as indicated by the sidewall coverage chart.

Do i need sidewall insulation in attic. Your options for attic insulation range from radiant barriers to sheets of mineral wool but most homeowners stick with products made from cellulose or fiberglass. Lay the batts across the ceiling joists covering the existing insulation. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live.

We offer our review of the three most popular types of attic insulation with a look at each one s pros and cons. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Inspecting your attic insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. You should deduct for these areas blowing side walls. Blown in spray foam batts and blankets. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Standard sidewall widths of both 15 and 23 are available. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. 16 and 24 widths are available for steel stud construction in many parts of the country building codes today call for insulation levels of r 19 or higher in sidewall assemblies.

Windows and doors and not deducted in the above calculation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Insulation level are specified by r value. Today s insulation products are manufactured to fit in both 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 construction.

Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. There are many types to choose from including blown in cellulose batt such as fiberglass mineral wool or cotton. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

After confirming that your attic is air sealed you need to select insulation. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.