Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - Adding insulation in Ceiling
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DawnW
01-28-03, 04:57 AM
Have a house with a floored attic (approx. 2" thick boards were used to floor the attic). The space between the ceiling below and the attic floor does not appear to have much/any insulation. What would be the best method for insulating this? Having a great deal of heat loss.
chfite
01-28-03, 06:05 AM
As a rule, insulation needs to go on top of the ceiling. This means taking the floor up while the insulation is installed.
If there is no insulation, then you would insulate according to the needs of your part of the country. Vapor barrier, insulation, flooring. If there is insulation in place with a vapor barrier, then you would add to it to reach the recommended R factor.
Over loose fill insulation with vapor barrier, most recommendations are for batts of insulation laid at right angles to the existing joists. Of course, this would make replacing the floor difficult. So I suppose putting them in in line with the joists would be the only other option. If the added insulation is higher than the height of the joists, then replacing the floor will compress the insulation which defeats the purpose of the added insulation.
Perhaps, furring strips on the joists to support the floor at the new level.
Now, we have really created work. I don't know how to resolve the flooring issue otherwise.
If there is no insulation, then you would insulate according to the needs of your part of the country. Vapor barrier, insulation, flooring. If there is insulation in place with a vapor barrier, then you would add to it to reach the recommended R factor.
Over loose fill insulation with vapor barrier, most recommendations are for batts of insulation laid at right angles to the existing joists. Of course, this would make replacing the floor difficult. So I suppose putting them in in line with the joists would be the only other option. If the added insulation is higher than the height of the joists, then replacing the floor will compress the insulation which defeats the purpose of the added insulation.
Perhaps, furring strips on the joists to support the floor at the new level.
Now, we have really created work. I don't know how to resolve the flooring issue otherwise.