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What should I know about attic insulation from Louisiana Roof Crafters. Your home is your castle. It’s your responsibility to protect it from pests, weather hazards, and anything Mother Nature throws at you. Proper attic insulation is one of the most effective ways to keep your home well protected from the vagaries of nature while maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature all year round. A well-insulated attic can help you save significant money on your energy expenses by reducing the need for air conditioning and heating equipment.

What-Should-I-Know-About-Attic-Insulation?

What Should I Know About Attic Insulation?

Proper insulation is essential in any home to keep the cool air in during summer and cold out in winter. The same holds for your attic insulation. In fact, attic insulation is more effective than wall insulation at retaining warm air inside your home during winter. That’s because heat tends to rise higher due to its less density. A properly insulated attic can help prevent this warm air from escaping outside. A properly insulated attic is your most powerful weapon against losing precious heat through your roofing system in winter.

In the absence of the right amount of insulation, the summer heat can travel from the hot and stuffy outdoors to your home, especially in peak summer months. By preventing this heat transfer, a well-insulated attic can help keep your home cool and comfortable without relying that much on your air conditioning system in summer.  

This means you and your family will enjoy a more comfortable and healthier atmosphere in your home by simply investing in good quality insulation. On the other hand, an under-insulated attic is just like keeping your front door open and letting the precious cool air escape while allowing hot and humid air from outside to enter your home. 

How Much Insulation Does My Attic Needs?

As per federal Energy Star guidelines, R60 insulation can help you properly insulate your attic i.e. if you’re insulating it for the first time. However, if your attic has already some insulation, you can prevent heat transfer by simply adding insulation of R38 – R49. 

If you’re wondering “will more insulation, make your home cooler?” Well, more isn’t always better if your attic has already adequate insulation. The more you spend on adding unnecessary insulation, the longer it will take to recover your money in terms of energy savings. The easiest way to decide if more insulation is needed is to check your attic joists. If they’re visible, it means your attic doesn’t have sufficient insulation, and adding more insulation will certainly help you achieve more energy savings. 

On the other hand, if you see insulation batts between your roofing joists that are properly covered with fluffy, blown-in insulation, this means you have adequate attic insulation. 

Add or replace your attic insulation if it is:

  • Wet
  • Old
  • Thin
  • Degraded by pest infestation

You need to be careful while selecting extra insulation for your attic. Simply adding more insulation batts will not serve the purpose because most attics are intricate spaces with complex nooks and crannies that traditional insulation batts may not reach.

This is where blown-in insulation can help. A trained and skilled professional will assess your current insulation and help you determine if you should replace or remove it or add more insulation over it. 

Thermal Resistance and R-Value

The thermal resistance of insulation material is measured in terms of its R-Value. In layman’s terms, the R-value is simply the ability of insulation material to prevent heat transfer. So, the more the R-value of insulation, the better it will be able to insulate your attic. 

If you go for federal recommended R60 insulation, you can enjoy significant savings on your energy bills every month. You can combine both blown-in and batts insulation for great results. However, if you’re looking for superior insulation, choose blown-in insulation because of the following reasons: 

  • Blown-in insulation can easily reach all the nooks and crannies of your attic space
  • This type of insulation can be piled precisely as needed. This can drastically minimize the chances of any settling
  • This insulation can also provide homeowners with noise dampening for a more serene and peaceful interior. 
  • Blown-in insulation also serves as a second layer for preventing moisture intrusion. So, it can effectively prevent mold, mildew, and other moisture-related issues in your home. 

Call Louisiana Roof Crafters at 985-238-4575 for more information. We service areas in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Hammond, Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, and New Orleans, LA.

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