As Canadians, we are all too familiar with cold weather and the high cost of keeping our homes warm. Having the right type of home insulation products can help you to keep your home environment more comfortable and save money. Of course, you will want to make sure that you choose the right insulation for the job.
Adding attic insulation will give you the greatest return on investment for your home. As energy costs continue to rise, deeper attic insulation simply makes more economic sense.
If your home was built within the last 10 years, you may still want to add insulation to your attic. It may not meet the minimum level required for new homes today. Even a new house may not have enough attic insulation; you would have to measure to confirm whether you are adequately protected.
How Much Insulation Will You Need?
Ideally, you want to have at least 18 inches of fibreglass insulation per square inch in your attic. Take a look to see what is in place now. If there is loose, fluffy insulation there now, it has a value of approx.R4 per square inch. Blanket-like insulation has a value of approx. R4 per square inch. Measure and do the math to see what you have and how much you will need to add
Decide How to Add Insulation to Your Attic
There are three options to decide how to add insulation to your attic:
- Hire a contractor to blow loose fill on top of your existing insulation and to install soffit baffels and properly seal the hatch.
- Rent an insulation blower and do the job yourself.
- Get bags of loose-fill insulation and take them up to the attic. Spread them by hand.
Be sure to keep the loose fill away from the eaves. This is the edge of the attic where the roof slopes down to meet the soffit. In modern houses, it is often open to the air for ventilation. You need to have some fresh air in the attic for ventilation and to allow moisture to escape.
If you don’t want to take on this job on your own, call in a qualified contractor. You will get the work done properly and can reap the benefits of lower energy costs for years to come.
