Installing Home Attic Insulation Rafter Vents
what you'll need
- Styrofoam rafter vent
- Hammer
- Nails
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Utility knife
- Work boots
- Tape measure
- Stapler
- Insulation foam
- Step ladder
- Palette knife
- Tool belt
A good way to save big bucks is making sure your home attic insulation is in good shape. Heating is one of the biggest money guzzlers at home, and so one of the best improvements that you can do at home is to increase the amount of insulation in your attic.
Home attic insulation provides immediate and ongoing benefits in terms of heating and cooling cost savings, because it keeps both your heat and your air conditioning from escaping the house. Of course, the benefits aren't just monetary; attic insulation also improves the comfort of your home.
An important part of a home attic insulation project is to install attic insulation rafter vents. Rafter vents help air to flow all the way up from the edge of the roof (known as the soffit). The purpose of the rafter vents is to keep the home attic insulation from pushing all the way up against the roof of the home. Without insulation rafter vents, air wouldn't be able to go through the soffit to the roof.
Fortunately, if you'd like to cut costs and improve your house value by installing home attic insulation rafter vents, this is a job that you can easily do yourself.
Step 1 - Clean the Soffit
If you are going to install rafter vents, it is important that they are open and free of debris so air can flow freely. So your first step is to climb the ladder and check all the holes in the soffit (the edge of the roof). Inspect every hole, and if you find any obstruction use the palette knife and the hammer to remove it.
Step 2 - Measure the Length from the Soffit to the Ridge
In order to install the rafter vent, you have to know the length from the soffit to the ridge. Rafter vents for home attic insulation come in different lengths, and knowing the length will help you to buy enough Styrofoam rafter vent needed for the project. The amount of home attic insulation has to be carefully measured in order to obtain the best results.
Step 3 - Placing the Rafter Vents
Use the step ladder to start placing the styrofoam rafter vents. You have to start from the soffit all the way up to the ridge. Use the stapler and stable the vents firmly to roof.
Step 4 - Adding the Insulation
After all the Styrofoam rafter vents are in place, you must add insulation to cover them. This is important because it will give an extra layer to avoid the heating going away from the roof.
Once you add the insulation on your rafter vents, you can be sure that your home attic insulation has improved greatly. Remember that roof ventilation is often not a one-time job, and you may have to do it again in the future in order to keep keep your home well insulated.