Many homeowners don’t fully appreciate the importance of proper insulation in their houses. A key benefit of proper insulation is that it helps to keep your house warm. Proper temperature control not only ensures comfort but is also economical. The attic is one of the places most responsible for heat loss. Its proper insulation goes a long way toward ensuring that the house interior is kept warm enough. Many property owners report saving as much as 20% in utility bills because of a well-insulated attic. Of course, proper attic insulation usually requires a professional touch. For example, if you visit stellrr.com/attic-insulation-austin-tx, you can quickly find out how these professionals can help you to have a well-insulated attic.
Depending on your situation, you may choose to do the attic insulation yourself or hire contractors to do it. In most jurisdictions, it’s not illegal to do your attic insulation by yourself. However, you need to consider that your experience in such matters may be limited. There are several reasons why hiring a professional to do your attic insulation is the best idea. These include:
i)Regulations and Codes: Different regions, or even cities, may have different building codes. These are regulations that dictate how and when modifications of any kind can be performed on a property. As a non-professional, you may be unaware of such things. If your municipality forbids private individuals from doing such things, you may find yourself running afoul of the law.
ii)Avoiding Extensive Preparation: Any novice that has ever carried out a home improvement project without professional guidance knows only too well how extensive (and stressful) the preparation can be. Firstly, you may have to fully familiarize yourself with the project. This may mean reading and researching crucial details. In the case of attic insulation, you may have to research things like trapped moisture and how they can impact the overall outcome of your attic insulation. A professional will be familiar with such things, making it easier for them to carry out the insulation.
iii) Ensuring Proper Ventilation: The object of attic insulation is to improve ventilation and temperature control inside the house. By their nature, attics are usually cramped and musty spaces. Their improper insulation could exacerbate things, rendering the whole insulation project counterproductive.
These are some of the many reasons it’s advisable to have a professional do your attic insulation.
However, if you’ve done enough research or have some experience in such matters, you can proceed to do the attic insulation yourself.
Generally, there are two types of attic insulation; laying down fiberglass rolls or blowing in cellulose insulation. You’ll need to choose the method that best caters to your attic insulation needs.
To do this,
1)Ensure that you have all the necessary tools and materials available: These include the machine used to blow the insulation and the actual insulation material. Whether it’s cellulose or fiberglass, they’re usually packed in bags and are available at your local home improvement store. Depending on the store you visit, you may even borrow the machine for free instead of renting it.
2) Measure the attic space: It’s important to remember that a bag of cellulose or fiberglass insulation material can only cover a specific amount of space. This is usually about 65 square feet. Knowing the approximate size of your attic space helps you get sufficient amounts of insulation material.
It’s crucial to remember the R-value of insulation. This value is commensurate with the insulation material’s ability to lose or absorb heat. The higher this value, the better insulation your attic gets. Keep this in mind when purchasing the type and amount of insulation material.
3) Protect the Lights and Soffits: In many houses, the area of the eaves leading to the opening above the soffits is essential for ventilation. You don’t want to inadvertently block this passage when blowing the insulation material in the attic. Ensure to cover it with soffit vent chutes before beginning work. Similarly, you want to ensure that the light fixtures are well-protected. Pay special attention to light fixtures that are recessed. The insulation may cover their top completely. You can build a protective barrier around the light fixture using thin pieces of wood. Ensure that this protective barrier is at least 3 inches away from the lights.
Of course, before you do begin blowing any insulation material, ensure that you have the right protective gear on. Whether you choose fiberglass or cellulose, you’ll have numerous tiny particles in the air when you’re done with the attic insulation process. You’ll want to avoid respiratory disease due to the inhalation of these particles.
At the end of the day, you can put attic insulation yourself if you prepare well.
