What to do with attic space over garage?
#1
10-14-04, 07:56 AM
What to do with attic space over garage?
Hello.
Is it common for the attic space over the garage to be uninsulated?
I own a home in Tampa Florida that is 3 years old. It has a ton of attic space all over but unfortunately has the wrong truss type to convert it to a useable room.
In any case, I will use it for storage so I planned to use plywood planks over the joists and so on. The area over the living area has fiberglass insulation and I assume if I secured plywood over the joists this won't make any effect on the insulating /cooling properties.
My question is the space above the garage. Why do most of these homes (I have seen 4 like it) have no insulation over them?
Some areas have the loose fill type, but my home has none over the garage area.
If I were to insulate it, will make any effect on the whole house cooling. And once insulated, is it ok to lay plywood floor over it?
Should I use the loose fill type or fiberglass?
Or does it matter if don't use insulation and just place the plywood over the joists?
Thanks in advanced.
Is it common for the attic space over the garage to be uninsulated?
I own a home in Tampa Florida that is 3 years old. It has a ton of attic space all over but unfortunately has the wrong truss type to convert it to a useable room.
In any case, I will use it for storage so I planned to use plywood planks over the joists and so on. The area over the living area has fiberglass insulation and I assume if I secured plywood over the joists this won't make any effect on the insulating /cooling properties.
My question is the space above the garage. Why do most of these homes (I have seen 4 like it) have no insulation over them?
Some areas have the loose fill type, but my home has none over the garage area.
If I were to insulate it, will make any effect on the whole house cooling. And once insulated, is it ok to lay plywood floor over it?
Should I use the loose fill type or fiberglass?
Or does it matter if don't use insulation and just place the plywood over the joists?
Thanks in advanced.
#2
10-14-04, 08:22 AM
Down here it helps to have some insulation in the ceiling of the garage. Just a R13 will help and you can put a floor right over it. in the rest of the home I take it you have about a R-30 that would be about 10"to 12" deep. Now there if you put boards on it and compress it it will cut down on its R value. The truss there will only have a 2X4 for the ceiling rafter. Make sure you have the right vents in the attic. Thats what helps on the AC
ED
ED
#3
10-14-04, 09:34 AM
Thank you!
There is a flat level part up at the center of the house, the "cathedral" ceiling part of the attic. It's about 13 ' x 30' squared that has loose fill. These are within the 2x4 joists..maybe 3 to 5 inches over the edge. The slanted rafter/joists have what I believe is R-30. It is at the flat part I had planned to put the other floor..nothing big.
The garage issue is clear now! Thanks for the advice.
The home has attic vents.The home does pretty good during the summer and "winter" (Florida ones LOL!) months. But the garage is an oven during the summer! Hopefully this will help regulate that.
Thanks again.
There is a flat level part up at the center of the house, the "cathedral" ceiling part of the attic. It's about 13 ' x 30' squared that has loose fill. These are within the 2x4 joists..maybe 3 to 5 inches over the edge. The slanted rafter/joists have what I believe is R-30. It is at the flat part I had planned to put the other floor..nothing big.
The garage issue is clear now! Thanks for the advice.
The home has attic vents.The home does pretty good during the summer and "winter" (Florida ones LOL!) months. But the garage is an oven during the summer! Hopefully this will help regulate that.
Thanks again.
#4
10-14-04, 12:41 PM
Down here a power roof vent on a tstat pays for itself.
Also go look at http://www.jacobhac.com/hottap.htm
The recovery on your hot water will give you free hot water for about 7 months down here and kick up the SEER on the AC. I have had my waterheater off for that time and had 140o hot all the time. might look into it when and if you have the AC worked on net time . Dont forget to change the air filter every 30 to90 days here
ED
Also go look at http://www.jacobhac.com/hottap.htm
The recovery on your hot water will give you free hot water for about 7 months down here and kick up the SEER on the AC. I have had my waterheater off for that time and had 140o hot all the time. might look into it when and if you have the AC worked on net time . Dont forget to change the air filter every 30 to90 days here
ED
