Floor Attic Insulation

Modifying an attic floor s joist system is a job for the pros.

Floor attic insulation. Start with the attic floor. When you are in the attic you re usually stepping carefully on top of the floor joists looking down at the back side of the drywall. Even easier you can also use a prefabricated attic floor kit designed specifically to raise the attic floor above the insulation. But before even they can start on a job that involves altering your home s structure they ll.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. They have floor joists or the bottom chords of roof trusses with drywall below. However if you keep the storage weight to a minimum you may be able to build a storage platform above the insulation by attaching supporting beams to the sides of the trusses. Find your zone on the map and then use the above insulation r value chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Insulation level are specified by r value. The solid base. 4b slab floors built directly on the ground. You ll have to construct a wooden frame or sub floor with boards 16 inches apart to provide extra support for the floor.

Stop using your attic for storage. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. 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. Although it s common to talk about installing insulation on the attic floor most attics don t really have a floor.

Attic flooring consists of materials as basic as sheets of plywood as well as more elaborate interlocking floor systems. The most effective places to add insulation to older homes are exterior walls attics basements and crawl spaces. Floors above cold spaces such as vented crawl spaces and unheated garages. Attic insulation between roof trusses.

Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. To floor an attic you ll need to install a sub floor for support before laying your plywood floor. No matter how old your home is it s a good idea to see if there are ways to improve its insulation. Bringing the floor up to code.

How to lay attic flooring on top of fiberglass insulation. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. Most homes are insulated in the attic and any floors located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces. Also insulate 4a any portion of the floor in a room that is cantilevered beyond the exterior wall below.

Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new.