Attic insulation is one of the most important
elements when it comes to the temperature regulating your home. Unfortunately, many
homes do not come with the proper amount of insulation. According to the U.S.
Department of Energy, almost 90% of homes in the United States are
under-insulated. If you're asking yourself "Do I need more insulation in my
attic?", the short answer is yes! Continue reading to learn more about attic
insulation.
Problems
You May Have With A Lack of Insulation
Higher Energy Bills
Without proper insulation, your attic will not
be able to retain your home heat in the winter or cool in the summer. Since the
conditioned air will be seeping through your attic, you'll end up with more
expensive energy bills. By insulating your home, your home will be able to trap
in your heated or cooled air.
When installing insulation, you should also
get a radiant barrier. This will protect your home from being heated by the
sun's rays, reducing how much you need to cool your home.
Ice Dams On Your Roof
The heat that escapes through your poorly
insulated roof can result in ice dams forming on your roof. Ice dams are ridges
of ice that form on the edge of your roof or on your gutters. As ice dams melt
and refreeze, they will build up and prevent water from running off your roof,
causing standing water to remain on your roof. These ice dams can damage the
structural integrity of your roof due to the weight and leaks that can be
caused by the standing water.
R-value
R-value is the measurement of insulation's
ability to reduce the amount of heat that comes in and out of your house. The
higher the R-value, the better reduction in heat flow. The recommended R-value
for your insulation is based on your geographic area and the climate associated
with that area.
Insulation
Options
The best insulation option is blown-in
fiberglass.
Blown-in insulation works well for attics with
enclosed existing walls, open wall cavities, unfinished attic floors, and
hard-to-reach places. This is a great choice if you want to add additional
insulation to the existing amount of insulation in your attic, oddly shaped
attic spaces, and around any obstructions.
Fiberglass insulation is the most common type
of insulation material. Fiberglass itself is made up of small pieces of
recycled glass that are developed into fiber. The glass material allows it to
trap air and slowly transfer heat. The R-value for fiberglass insulation for
walls can range from R11 to R19 and up to R30 for ceilings and attics.
Without a roofing contractor's expertise, you
might not know the best way to go with your attic insulation. Our highly
trained service technicians at Roof It Forward can recommend and install
thermal insulation upgrades in your attic. ARAC Roof It Forward has been
providing high-quality roofing solutions to the Metro Atlanta area since 2005.
We aim to provide top-tier service to our customers to keep you and your family
safe in your home. Contact us today to schedule your home insulation estimate
and inspection!
