The Best Way To Add Insuation To Your Attic Joist Bays
Posted on: 29 November 2017
Many homes are built with unfinished attics. This means that there is no drywall installed on top of the roof joists and girders. This might mean that they aren't very energy-efficient, but it does mean that homeowners can add their own insulation to the joist bays quite easily. People in hot climates often feel heat radiate downward through their attic during the summer months. In colder regions, homeowners can notice have a cold air coming through their roof via the attic, which makes it much harder to keep their home warm and comfortable. Since there is no drywall to remove, you can add fiberglass insulation to the space between the studs. This article shows that the best way to do this project if you don't hire someone who offers attic insulation services.
Use Continuous Fiberglass Insulation Rolls
The first thing you need to do is measure the space between your joists. You can find fiberglass insulation rolls in the most common widths of joist gaps. That is, if you have 16" or 32" joist spacing, you will be able to find a perfect fiberglass product. If you do have 16" joist spacing (this is the most common width), look for 15" wide rolls. These will fit perfectly in between the bays without meeting to be cut. You will only need to cut the length when you roll it to the end of the wall or girder. Some rolls are as long as 40', so you can fill in several bays with one roll. The only problem is that when you place the insulation into the bay, it might roll up at the end. Since the fiberglass is packed tight and shrink wrapped, the curling is inevitable. It works better if your face the insulation down, so it curls downward and not upward. Still, you might need to use a little bit of tape at the end just to hold down the fiberglass in place.
Should Your Add Drywall or Plywood
You can then add even more insulation to your newly insulated roof joists by adding drywall or plywood on top. Plywood is great because it doesn't need to be tightened, you can move it around, and it enables you to make your attic a little more usable. That is, if you can walk on your joists, your attic will essentially have a floor, expanding the storage and making the space more functional. Of course, it also adds insulation to your attic.
Share
