Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - Insulation help please??
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Danno30008
09-23-07, 07:10 PM
This is a re-post.
Please offer some help if possible as I do not know enough about this topic and really need some help.
Thanks
Good morning:
We have a house in Atlanta that was built in the mid 60's. It is a four sided brick ranch with a full basement. The insulation in the attic is the original blown in and it barely reaches the top of the 2x6's. Here are my questions:
1. Should we use the blown in type or rolls?
2. How much should we add for this area of the country?
3. Is R19 good enough?
4. If we blow it in, how do I prevent the vents from getting covered up with the new insulation?
5. How much if we blow in should I add?
6. If we use the rolls, are both sides un0faced. or is one side faced?
I think that about covers it so thanks in advance for your help.
Take care
Dan
Please offer some help if possible as I do not know enough about this topic and really need some help.
Thanks
Good morning:
We have a house in Atlanta that was built in the mid 60's. It is a four sided brick ranch with a full basement. The insulation in the attic is the original blown in and it barely reaches the top of the 2x6's. Here are my questions:
1. Should we use the blown in type or rolls?
2. How much should we add for this area of the country?
3. Is R19 good enough?
4. If we blow it in, how do I prevent the vents from getting covered up with the new insulation?
5. How much if we blow in should I add?
6. If we use the rolls, are both sides un0faced. or is one side faced?
I think that about covers it so thanks in advance for your help.
Take care
Dan
Jack the Contractor
09-23-07, 08:11 PM
Alot of these questions we cannot answer, but I would put in about 6" more of insulation. You can use blown in cellulose, or rolled. Rolled comes in faced and un faced your choice. You can make a shield around your vents so they are not covered up. Keep the insulation back about 18" from the vents. Hope this helps.
d00bs
09-23-07, 08:14 PM
This is a re-post.
Please offer some help if possible as I do not know enough about this topic and really need some help.
Thanks
Good morning:
We have a house in Atlanta that was built in the mid 60's. It is a four sided brick ranch with a full basement. The insulation in the attic is the original blown in and it barely reaches the top of the 2x6's. Here are my questions:
1. Should we use the blown in type or rolls?
2. How much should we add for this area of the country?
3. Is R19 good enough?
4. If we blow it in, how do I prevent the vents from getting covered up with the new insulation?
5. How much if we blow in should I add?
6. If we use the rolls, are both sides un0faced. or is one side faced?
I think that about covers it so thanks in advance for your help.
Take care
Dan
First try to use google as you will quickly find alot of info. Searching just on R levels insulation brings up tons of good hits. Try this site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/components/envelope/insulation.html
I think your area requires R38 in attics but double check. R19 is not enough and you probably have R19 right now with about 5 inches original blown in cellulose.
Simple answers to your questions:
1. If you can easily access your attic I would just blow more cellulose on top of what is there and not use rolls/fiberglass at all. Be sure to inspect the attic space for any obvious air leaks from below (chimmney chases plumbing vents top plates of walls etc) and seal them with foam/caulk if needed. Insulation especially fiberglass wont stop air leaks (celluose is better at this though) but will slow down the transfer of heat. So kill the leaks.
2. R 38 Install cellulose so it reaches 11.7 inches in height. After it settles it will give you 10.7 inches which is R38.
3. No
4. Are you talking about soffits at the edges of the attic or the gable vents on either side of the attic. For soffits staple on insulation baffles right at the eves above the soffits. (found at home depot) For gable vents you can literally build a baffle out of cardboard (i did and they worked fine) think of a shoebox with one long end torn off. Staple it to the inside of the vent with the open side facing up and an open side facing the vent to prevent the cellulose from covering up the vent and to hold back the insulation.
5. See answer # 2
6. I wouldnt use rolls for all the above reasons but if you do I would use unfaced.
Thats all but check out this site for specific info on installing: http://www.cocooninsulation.com/homeowners/how_to_install.asp
read it all.
Also a good book that i use is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Insulate-Weatherize-Expert-Advice-Finish/dp/1561585548/ref=sr_1_1/002-9391385-3892810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190599903&sr=1-1
check it out from your local library first but it has so much info i went ahead and bought it.
Good luck
Please offer some help if possible as I do not know enough about this topic and really need some help.
Thanks
Good morning:
We have a house in Atlanta that was built in the mid 60's. It is a four sided brick ranch with a full basement. The insulation in the attic is the original blown in and it barely reaches the top of the 2x6's. Here are my questions:
1. Should we use the blown in type or rolls?
2. How much should we add for this area of the country?
3. Is R19 good enough?
4. If we blow it in, how do I prevent the vents from getting covered up with the new insulation?
5. How much if we blow in should I add?
6. If we use the rolls, are both sides un0faced. or is one side faced?
I think that about covers it so thanks in advance for your help.
Take care
Dan
First try to use google as you will quickly find alot of info. Searching just on R levels insulation brings up tons of good hits. Try this site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/components/envelope/insulation.html
I think your area requires R38 in attics but double check. R19 is not enough and you probably have R19 right now with about 5 inches original blown in cellulose.
Simple answers to your questions:
1. If you can easily access your attic I would just blow more cellulose on top of what is there and not use rolls/fiberglass at all. Be sure to inspect the attic space for any obvious air leaks from below (chimmney chases plumbing vents top plates of walls etc) and seal them with foam/caulk if needed. Insulation especially fiberglass wont stop air leaks (celluose is better at this though) but will slow down the transfer of heat. So kill the leaks.
2. R 38 Install cellulose so it reaches 11.7 inches in height. After it settles it will give you 10.7 inches which is R38.
3. No
4. Are you talking about soffits at the edges of the attic or the gable vents on either side of the attic. For soffits staple on insulation baffles right at the eves above the soffits. (found at home depot) For gable vents you can literally build a baffle out of cardboard (i did and they worked fine) think of a shoebox with one long end torn off. Staple it to the inside of the vent with the open side facing up and an open side facing the vent to prevent the cellulose from covering up the vent and to hold back the insulation.
5. See answer # 2
6. I wouldnt use rolls for all the above reasons but if you do I would use unfaced.
Thats all but check out this site for specific info on installing: http://www.cocooninsulation.com/homeowners/how_to_install.asp
read it all.
Also a good book that i use is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Insulate-Weatherize-Expert-Advice-Finish/dp/1561585548/ref=sr_1_1/002-9391385-3892810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190599903&sr=1-1
check it out from your local library first but it has so much info i went ahead and bought it.
Good luck