How To Add Extra Insulation To The Attic

Install fiberglass batts over existing batt insulation.

How to add extra insulation to the attic.

Blow in insulation until the hopper is empty. Put on goggles and gloves to protect yourself while handling. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet.

How do i add insulation to existing attic insulation. Then pivot in place and do the same thing to the other side. A tightly sealed house is just as important as insulation. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box.

Measure how much insulation you already have. Move across the attic until you ve hit your desired height at every point. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation.

If you use fiberglass over loose fill make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. An adequately insulated attic reduces your home s energy costs by keeping warm air in during the winter and hot air out during the summer. It s safer to build a small enclosure with hardware cloth or plywood to keep loose insulation away from lights and exhaust fans.

Use cardboard or rigid foam baffles to keep soffit vents open. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall. For the center areas hold the hose level and blow in insulation evenly until you ve reached your level lines photo 6. Turn off the power to the outlet.

Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all. Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used. 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. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets and vice versa.

See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. Cost effective way to save energy with this old house general contractor tom silva. Check the depth using a tape measure. How to add extra insulation to an attic.