Old House Roof Insulation

The insulation must meet doe standards.

Old house roof insulation.

Just because you find insulation in one wall doesn t mean that it s everywhere in the house. Are they 2 6 2 8 or bigger. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. The attic is often the easiest place to add insulation.

Like other batt type insulation fiberglass has a predictable r value if not compressed but is difficult to fit around obstacles without leaving gaps. If you live in a warm climate you require a lower r value. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. You have many choices for your insulation batting.

This old house general contractor tom silva shows how he installs roofing and siding to keep a house buttoned up and dry. Layer more insulation over the old for more effectiveness. If you have an unfinished and unconditioned attic like many old houses my first recommendation would be to add batt insulation on the underside of the roof. In most climates it needs a vapor barrier.

Adding insulation where it was never designed to go mainly the walls of an old house causes a host of problems all due to the moisture issues it creates. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. Strictly speaking there s no practical upper limit for attic insulation depth. Always use unfaced batts both when laying product for the first time and to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between new and old layers of insulation.

Measure the size of the roof rafters. Check outlets on all floors as well as old and new parts of your house. Old house insulation strategy 1. Cutting batts of fiberglass insulation a neat trick for making tidy cuts.

Wood can wet without issue but keep it wet and then the problems arise. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help determine the type of insulation. Maximize attic insulation this is simple and not particularly unique to older homes but it s also the easiest and least expensive energy upgrade you can do.

Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks. Here are just a few of the highlights. For most of the us the doe s standard is r 38. Replace old windows with energy efficient units.

Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Fiberglass batts the insulation found in most houses in the u s are inexpensive and quick to install. Your area may have a different standard so be sure to check first. Install siding over the insulation.

Increase your r value by layering insulation. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. The format of house insulation you need depends on where you put it and if you need to control moisture. Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check.