An attic is a room or space inside the roof of your home. In the past, many homeowners did not find a good use for the attic and often left it unexploited. Today, the narrative has changed significantly following lots of development in the construction industry that allows you to put this space to good use. Large attics can serve as bedrooms for guests, especially when you are low on space in the other rooms. You can also convert them to a storage space for keeping the items you do not need regularly. However, converting your attic into a proper living space requires some work, especially In terms of insulating against weather elements. Here is a guide that will come in handy as you take on this project for the first time.

Consider the R-Value

The R-value is an important consideration when you think about insulating your home's attic. The R-value determines the suitability of the material that you use to do the insulation. An online search on your local government's energy department portal can provide you with the information you need. If this is not available, you can visit the energy department for recommendations from a specialist.

Simply, the R-value refers to a material's ability to resist the flow of heat when used for insulation. You can also refer to it as thermal resistance. The insulating efficiency increases as the R-value goes high. Typically, anything between thirty and fifty should be good enough for domestic attic insulation. However, areas that experience extreme heat or cold call for a bigger R-value.

Consider Your Method and Materials

How do you plan to take on your insulation project? Is it a do-it-yourself undertaking or something you plan to engage a professional for? Think about these two things because they affect the materials and techniques you will use. If you plan to do the installation yourself, go for blanket insulation. It is available in rolls or batts. You can use mineral wool, fibreglass, natural or plastic fibres. However, blanket insulation works well when you have standard regular-shaped joists and beams. There should be minimal obstructions, allowing you to cut the rolls well and fit them snugly in areas that are hard to reach.

On the other hand, you have alternatives such as spray-foam insulation. The material of choice here is polyurethane. You can go for spongy, open-cell foam insulation with air filling the cells in the material. The closed-cell option uses gas to expand the foam so that it fills all the spaces. Certainly, spray foam insulation calls for the services of a professional.

For more information, contact a residential insulation service.

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