Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva gives some basic tips about insulating an attic
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse
Tom demonstrated a variety of different insulation types that can be used in an attic.
Cost: $100 and Up
Skill Level: Beginner
Tools:
Insulation blower
Shopping List:
Unfaced fiberglass insulation OR
Cellulose insulation OR
Rigid foam insulation
_” plywood
Steps:
1. An easy way to improve the insulation in a home is by insulating the attic floor.
2. Fiberglass insulation can be unrolled and placed into floor joists. Be sure to install unfaced insulation. Faced insulation has a vapor barrier that can hold on to moisture and cause mold in the attic floor and the ceiling below.
3. It’s possible to rent an insulation blower and buy cellulose insulation to blow into the floor joists. In this case, blow the insulation so that it falls higher than the floor joists to allow for settlement.
4. If the attic floor is covered, add a layer of rigid foam and then add _” plywood on top of that.
Resources:
The fiberglass insulation Tom showed is manufactured by Owens Corning (https://www.owenscorning.com/) . It comes in a variety of different R-values depending on where you are in the country and how much insulation you need, and it can come either faced or unfaced. Tom recommends getting unfaced insulation, but if it’s only available faced, the label can be peeled off and used.
Tom also discusses using cellulose insulation or using rigid foam insulation over floor boards to allow for storage and added insulation in an attic.
All of these can be found at a home center.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG
For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite
How to Maximize the Impact of Insulation | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/
David helps a NY couple find their second home on Oneida Lake. source
Brian and Mika help an engaged couple with their first big joint decision. source
This home is located in the neighborhood of Rocky Creek in Southwest Austin. The builder…
A family building a dovetail log cabin races to beat the elements. source
In this video, you will learn how to set up a photography studio at home…
View Comments
1st comment!!!!!!!!
Great videos. Quick question. How do you edit your shows on television like do u use Adobe Premiere or...
This had to be the tenth video of the same thing being said.
It's that how they make videos now? By rinse and repeat?
Hiiiii !!!,!
So glad I hit the bell; these guys (and gals) are always teaching me something. Sometimes, though, they end up costing me more money, even though the episodes are free: now my wife wants a plunge pool, and the kids are in on it too!
Where would you use 'faced' fiberglass then?
I love this show and i dont even Live in a house
What about the new types of insulation like, recycled jeans, foam board and rockwool insulation?
4:03 - OK this part was hard to follow - so if I want to convert part of my attic to usable storage space but properly insulated, I can put down unfaced fiberglass between the floor studs and then plywood on top? And in the case of a pre-installed floor, am I following this right that rigid foam would go on top of the pre existing floor, and then another layer of floor board on top? Could you also do insulation between the floor studs, a rigid foam layer, then flooring on top for even better results (less air leaks)?
MY house was built in 1910- no insulation at all. 40years ago i added 3inches then 5years ago i added 9 inches to the ceiling floor. Cant remember if either layer had a vapor barrier. Is this what your saying- neither layer should have a vapor barrier?
So what is the paper on the fiberglass for? a) stop dirt from going down the insulation. Insulation what is it? It is a way to stop air from moving. So you want lots och air standing still. b) The second thing the paper is for? Stop winds from digging down in to in the insulation. So paper always goes on top and no need for it to be perfect.
Heat and moist. Every house shall have a plastic barrier som moist don't go up in to the attic. Over that the insulation goes. Ventilation of moist inside of the house is not done thru the attic.
If you have poor insulation heat escapes. But there is a problem if you have too much. What why? In the winter some heat needs to heat the air in the attic. So that it can start circulation and dry the air from moist. If not you get a cold and moist attic. That does so mold starts to grow. You can install a mechanical ventilator that starts when needed.