Attic Insulation For Older Home

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Attic insulation for older home.

Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

I get asked a lot about insulating old houses especially in the wintertime. Builder s knew that water was the 1 enemy of any house and the way they built may have allowed water to get into the walls in minute amounts but due to the extraordinary looseness in the building envelope the house. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Chances are good that if your house was built before the 1960 s there is little to no insulation. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. People fall in love with the character rich architecture of these homes but they don t want the crazy heating and cooling bills that come along with that character. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks.

Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. When preparing for renovations of older homes you will likely encounter old insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. Learn how to identify old ceiling insulation. These older homes were largely built without insulation and just open cavities in the walls where the house could breathe.

Install siding over the insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value. Replace old windows with energy efficient units. Depending on the type it could be dangerous to your health damaged or simply too old to be as effective as modern insulation.