Insulating An Attic Used For Storage

If you re considering turning your attic into conditioned storage or living space it s worth changing tactics to insulate between the rafters and wall joists instead of the floor.

Insulating an attic used for storage. Most commonly used and probably the cheapest insulation material. Hire a pro to install spray foam insulation. Florida the gulf coast and california are in zones 4 or higher with attic specifications of r 38 and walls of. At the perimeter of the attic where the rafters meet the attic floor joists it s hard to improve on spray polyurethane foam to address air leaks and to provide r value in a tight space.

Ventilation is critical to the health of your home so make sure your storage plans won t affect the existing ventilation system. For example don t block any vents to protect your stored items from cold air. It s available in fiberglass mineral wool plastic fibers and natural fibers. If the finished attic is simply a storage area without the need for climate control you can leave the attic floor insulation in place but must forgo adding anything between the rafters.

You can use rigid foam panels or do as tom silva does with nearly all houses these days. What you ll need installing foam insulation boards in the attic is no that hard and can save you money compared with professional installation. Some manufacturers are using between 30 and 70 recycled material. A loosely spun plastic material reinforced with tiny fibers of glass.

Batts are made to fit between 2 4 or 2 6 studs at 16 or 24 inch centers. Foam board insulation in the attic can cut down on energy costs and simultaneously promote a more environmentally sound way of daily living. Most of the country is zone 3 requiring attic insulation of r 49 and walls of r 18. This type of air sealing work is routinely performed by weatherization contractors.