Adding Attic Insulation - Doing the Job - Install Rafter Vents - Notes to Keep in Mind
What about Insulating the Rim Joist?
After air sealing the rim joist area it is relatively easy to insulate each cavity with rigid foam insulation or fiberglass batts. If using batts, just cut the insulation to fit and place against the rim joist without compression, gap or voids. If using rigid, foam into place. This could also be done in conjunction with finishing the basment, when you would insulate the basement walls floor to ceiling. Attic and basement air sealing will go a long way to improve your comfort because your house will no longer act like an open chimney.
Now that you've air sealed your attic and basement, check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation and it will improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.
Do I Have Enough?
No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic, one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor joists (i.e. you can easily see your joists), you should add more. If you cannot see any of the floor joists because the insulation is well above them, you probably have enough and adding more may not be cost effective. It is important that the insulation be evenly distributed with no low spots - sometimes there is enough insulation in the middle of the attic and very little along the eaves. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly, you probably have enough.
How Much Should I Add?
Insulation levels are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation's ability to resist heat flow traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.
Add the Right Kind of Insulation
When adding additional insulation, you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets, and vice versa. If you use fiberglass over loose fill, make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing - it needs to be "unfaced." If you choose to add loose fill, it may be wise to hire a professional, as the application requires the use of a blowing machine - yet some home improvement stores offer rentals of this machine.
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