Adding Attic Insulation To Old House

This old house general contractor tom silva explains the wide world of spray foam insulation how to install insulation learn how to beef up your wall s weather protection in 4 easy steps.

Adding attic insulation to old house.

Let s apply this knowledge to your. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. Lay the batts perpendicular to the joists so. Make sure you use an unfaced batt one without a paper or foil layer so the insulation does not trap moisture in the ceiling.

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. Many old houses had some attic insulation usually cellulose or rock wool but these materials lose their effectiveness over time. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. Before you begin the installation of insulation.

If there is not any insulation in your attic fit the insulation between the joists. The easiest way to add attic insulation is with fiberglass batts. 3 have a friend add material to the hopper. How to insulate walls in an old house.

Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet. If the existing insulation is near or above the top of the joists it is a good idea to place the new batts perpendicular to the old ones because that will help to cover the tops of the joists themselves and reduce thermal bridging through the frame. Install siding over the insulation. This old house general contractor tom silva shows affordable ways to create an energy efficient attic how to know what insulation is behind your walls if you live in an older home understanding what pads your walls is essential to keeping your family safe.

Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Fill the gaps your insulated attic isn t necessarily a sealed attic. Turn off the power to the outlet. Why the attic is key 1.

Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. How to insulate an old house. We all know that hot air rises as cool air sinks to a low level. Replace old windows with energy efficient units.

Block all vents in the attic floor with baffles making sure to extend the baffles at least four inches above the planned thickness of your insulation. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall.