Are you looking to save some money in the winter months or on those windy days in Ireland? Why not have a look at what you can do to improve the insulation around your home.
The right type of insulation will provide you with the ability to turn that thermostat down which will help reduce expenses and at the same time lower your carbon footprint.
You can save up to 60 percent on your heating bill if you properly insulate your attic roof. Homes come in different styles, and roofs are very diverse, but most have enough attic spaces to make it worthwhile to look at.
If you’ve been trying to save energy costs, insulating your roof and walls might be one way to achieve that goal at a minimum cost.
Make a visual inspection of your attic
Take a critical look at the current condition before hitting the road on insulation. To get this done, you may need the aid of a builder or architect. One of the signals that you may have a moisture problem going on is when you have wet insulation. A roof leak may cause this—and that must be corrected before any insulation work is to begin.
Again, you might want to look out the size of the rafter using a structural engineer. Some homes feature undersized rafters when you compare it to the current code requirements. If you have a sagging rafter in place, then reinforcing it before going ahead with the insulation may be a good idea.
Sealing off any gaps
When the evaluation is over, ensure that your attic is air sealed—that means any cracks, holes, or other gaps must be blocked to prevent air transfer. By so doing, you can achieve the right temperature.
There are simple ways to seal off air—hole filling using expanding foam and caulk. Even after air sealing, you’ll have to provide ventilation for the attic. With a professional on the job, the roof ventilation system will be considered, and the best way to maintain it too.
Choosing the right insulation option
With the attic adequately sealed, it is time to select the right insulation solution. The list is endless, from spray foam to blown-in cellulose; even batt insulation is not left out—like fiberglass, mineral wool, or cotton.
Three factors must be considered during insulation—available space, cost of insulation, and the desired R-value. The R-value is the thermal resistance rating of the insulation material. A higher R-value means better insulation.
For a place like Kildare, the energy code minimum is an value of 20 when it comes to attic insulation although we do recommend adding more.
You must also understand that various types of insulation come with different amounts of space. For standard insulation, the value is between 2.7 and 3.7 per inch of thickness. What it means is that 49 requires between 13 and 17 inches—insulation thickness has to be between those values. The truth is, that may be a tall order.
For spray foam insulation, the value is 3.4 per inch for open cell and 6.1 per inch for the closed-cell. With the closed cell type, you can hit 4.9 with 8 inches thick—that is a typical rafter height in many older homes.
Spray insulation comes at a cost, it is more expensive when compare to normal fibre glass insulation. You might want to settle for blown-in cellulose because of the advantage in cost and value. For inaccessible attics, this might be the right option to go with.
If you consider insulating your roof this winter, it may be a good investment—you’ll drastically reduce your heating bills. Even when the cold temperatures return, you’ll equally cut down on air condition bills.
Engage the services of a structural engineer, a builder, or architect to take a look at your attic. They will give you the recommendations on the right insulation to settle for—and for your budget too.
Feel free to call us if you need any help or guidance on picking the right option for insulating your home. Select Paving, experts at home improvements and more.