These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation.
Attic floor insulation.
How to lay attic flooring on top of fiberglass insulation.
Attic flooring consists of materials as basic as sheets of plywood as well as more elaborate interlocking floor systems.
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.
The ceiling load may include items like drywall ducts recessed lights bathroom fans and attic insulation.
Considering usable floor space.
Even easier you can also use a prefabricated attic floor kit designed specifically to raise the attic floor above the insulation.
How to insulate a finished attic.
Start with the attic floor.
Most homes are insulated in the attic and any floors located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces.
Stop using your attic for storage.
That means insulating the attic floor only not the walls and having vents in the roof.
No matter how old your home is it s a good idea to see if there are ways to improve its insulation.
First if you never build a room in the attic the insulation in the floor area will save energy costs.
The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
The solid base.
The most effective places to add insulation to older homes are exterior walls attics basements and crawl spaces.
A finished attic should be insulated much like the rest of the house with insulation in the walls and ceiling.
While you can get by cheaper by adding no insulation there are two reasons to add insulation between floor joists.
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.
Don t skip the insulation in the floor.
With a finished attic insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable.
Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new.
Attic insulation between roof trusses.
R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.
Most houses attics are built without flooring and are not designed to carry the heavy load of finished space.
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.
While local codes vary many communities will not permit the ceiling in a finished.
Air from rooms below will not escape rapidly into the attic.
The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.