It’s no secret that your attic should be properly insulated if you want to maximize your home’s energy efficiency. Regardless of an attic’s shape or size, the right attic insulation solutions can make all the difference when it comes to saving you money and keeping you comfortable all year long. Hiring a qualified attic insulation contractor in Austin is the best way to ensure your home has the right insulation.
What materials will your contractor use to insulate your attic? How much insulation does an attic need in Austin? Keep reading to learn more!
Insulating Your Attic
Do You Need to Insulate Your Space?
The first step is actually figuring out you need more attic insulation. ENERGY STAR® recommends looking across your attic and seeing if the insulation is level with or below your floor joists—if so, you need more. If the joists are visible and you think you need more insulation, or you can’t access your attic, call an insulation company.
What Are the Recommended Levels?
The right amount of insulation is just as important as the material itself! This depends on how much attic insulation you already have and where you live.
Here in the Austin area, we are in Zone 2, which requires R30 – R60 for uninsulated attics and R25 – R38 for attics that already have a few inches of insulation.
What Materials Should Be Used?
Spray foam can be installed in attics, but typically, loose-fill or batt insulation is used. Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install and provides better coverage, able to fill small cracks and gaps.
Note: When adding insulation in your attic, you do not have to use the same type of insulation that is already there. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets, and vice-versa. If you use fiberglass over loose fill, make sure the batts are unfaced.
How Should the Attic Be Insulated?
In unfinished attics, you should insulate the access door and between and over floor joists. In finished attic spaces, insulate:
- Between studs of knee walls
- Between studs and rafters of exterior walls and the roof
- Ceilings with cold spaces above them
If you have ducts in an unconditioned attic, they should also be sealed and air sealed.
Learn more:
You can visit the websites of the Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR to learn more about insulating your attic—and the rest of your home.
Attic Insulation Services in Austin, TX
All this information can be helpful to know on the front end, but an insulation company will be able to take care of the entire project, from initial assessment and estimate to final cleanup. If you live in the Austin, Texas area, Hinkle Insulation is the only name to know! Contact us to get started on your project.
