Using insulation on your attic’s roof can give you a more comfy home and a lower heating and cooling price tag. But there’s a catch: to get these advantages, you’ll need to track down the best insulation between rafters. You’ll also have to figure out how you can put this material in place. This blog post can help – we’ll guide you through every step of your rafter insulation installation procedure.
Why Does Your Attic Need Roof Rafter Insulation?
After you’ve insulated your roof rafters, you’ll gain:
A More Comfortable Home
One huge benefit of insulating attic spaces is the relief it provides from extreme temperatures. When you have truly great insulation, you can keep your residence warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Lower Heating and Cooling Costs
Thanks to attic insulation, you won’t have to use your heater or air conditioning as often as you used to and conserve more energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the median homeowner can save about 15% on heating and cooling expenses after working on insulation installation and air sealing.
A More Sustainable House
The lower HVAC usage made possible by insulation can also lower your home’s environmental impact. That’s especially true if you use eco-friendly insulation materials like cellulose in your attic space.
Better Moisture (and Mold) Control
Installing the best insulation between rafters in your attic will help cut down on condensation. Since that moisture can contribute to mold and mildew, this is a massive benefit in its own right.
Should You Insulate Your Attic’s Floor or Roof?
While your attic definitely needs insulation, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should install it between roof rafters. You could put insulation on your attic’s floor instead, which comes with its own pros and cons.
If you want to include your attic in your living area, rafter insulation will keep temperatures pleasant throughout your entire home. Floor insulation can also be a great option if you only use your attic as unfinished storage space.
Choosing the Best Insulation Type for Rafters
Once you’ve chosen how to insulate your attic, you should start weighing your insulation product options. Depending on your circumstances, that could be:
Blanket Insulation
The term “blanket insulation” applies to insulation sold by the batt or roll. This well-known type of insulation is a top-notch choice for attic roofs.
Insulation manufacturers make blanket insulation out of all sorts of materials. Fiberglass insulation is a great option, but you can also pick up blanket insulation made with mineral wool and natural fibers.
Foam Board Insulation
Foam board insulation is sold as rigid foam panels. Along with its strong R-values, this insulation has no trouble resisting moisture. That’s crucial in attic settings, where uncontrolled dampness can promote mold growth.
Loose-Fill Insulation
Unlike the insulation varieties discussed above, loose-fill insulation isn’t sold as boards or blankets. Instead, installers use a specialized blower to blow this loose insulation material into attics.
Cellulose (an insulation material made of recycled paper) is a well known form of loose-fill insulation. If you don’t want to use cellulose, you could go with loose-fill fiberglass or mineral wool insulation.
Spray Foam Insulation
Finally, spray foam insulation expands after you apply it. Since it creates a custom fit, this material can fill gaps and cracks in your attic’s roof.
Spray foam insulation does a top-notch job of blocking heat flow, too. On the other hand, it tends to be more pricey than other insulation types.
So, which of these products provides the best insulation between rafters? The answer is “it depends” – none of the insulation materials listed in this section is a terrible choice. Of course, you’ll get the best results by weighing what you need from your insulation and making a choice based on that.
How to Install Attic Roof Rafter Insulation
As soon as you’ve found an insulation material that fits your situation, you’ll be ready to insulate your attic roof rafters. To do that, you’ll need to:
Prepare your attic. Before you get started, make sure your attic space doesn’t have any mold, mildew, or structural damage. It would also be smart to check your attic ventilation at this point.
Take safety precautions. Insulation can cause skin irritation and breathing problems. To keep yourself safe, wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection when installing insulation. Always think about your fall risk while working in your attic, too.
Measure and cut insulation. If you picked an insulation type like foam insulation boards or blanket insulation, cut this material with a utility knife to fit your rafter spaces. Before making the first cut, be sure to measure the spaces between your rafters meticulously.
Install insulation. Once your insulation is ready to go, put this material between your rafters. Aim to put your insulation firmly in place, but don’t compress it. That can hinder its performance.
Seal any gaps you find. Air leaks can make it harder for your insulation to block heat flow. You can deal with that by sealing large cracks with foam insulation sealant and smaller cracks with caulking.
Do You Need to Install Your Own Insulation?
As you can see, insulation installation can be trickier than you’d expect. But we have good news – you never really need to install insulation on your own.
Instead, you can hire a team of insulation experts to do this for you. These pros can help you find the right type of attic insulation, decide where to install this material, and take care of putting in your insulation. Best of all, they’ll do this at a much lower cost than you might expect.
Don’t Settle for Less When You Need Insulation
If you want trustworthy professionals to install the best insulation between rafters, choose Attic Projects for the job. Our crew specializes in attic insulation installation services, and they’ll address any problems they find in your attic before putting this material between your rafters. When you’re ready to get the great attic roof insulation you deserve, just let us know!