Attic Insulation For Older Home

One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation.

Attic insulation for older home.

Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks. People fall in love with the character rich architecture of these homes but they don t want the crazy heating and cooling bills that come along with that character. Depending on the type it could be dangerous to your health damaged or simply too old to be as effective as modern insulation. When preparing for renovations of older homes you will likely encounter old insulation.

Replace old windows with energy efficient units. Chances are good that if your house was built before the 1960 s there is little to no insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Install siding over the insulation.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. I get asked a lot about insulating old houses especially in the wintertime. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Learn how to identify old ceiling insulation.

Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. Recommended home insulation r values. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. Insulation level are specified by r value. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. These older homes were largely built without insulation and just open cavities in the walls where the house could breathe.