Spray Foam? Thoughts?
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Spray Foam? Thoughts?
My house was built in 1960. It is pretty insulated as the previous owner increased the attic insulation level. My 500gal oil tank I fill once a year. One room in my house is cooler then the other rooms in the house. I was curious if spray foam insulation would help and be able to be applied from the outside through the shingles. My attic I use for storage and I see cellulose being used to insulate the attic. How would this be applied to allow me to still use the attic? I have alarm wiring, electrical, coax wiring in the attic. Would it be adviseable to spray foam the room part of the attic only?
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applied from the outside through the shingles
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The room has insulation. It wasn't an addition and sits NW side of house. Yes I use the attic for storage. I guess the compression has reduced the R value. Wouldn't they be able to spray under the roof of the attic to allow me to continue utilizing the space for storage as well as insulating? I have seen adds for companies using spray foam (different types) where from the outside they remove a shingle shoot the insulation to fill the walls between the 2x4s to insulate. Then they put the shingle back. They can probably also just shoot the insulation from the attic down the walls as well. The house probably has original insulation but this is the only room that is a tad cooler.
#4
The rafters in the entire roof would need to be insulate for that idea to do any good, not just one room. (Assuming the entire attic is all open and connected space.) Not knowing anything about the size of your rafters, it's impossible for us to say how effective that would be. Spray foam is done from inside the attic, not "through the shingles".
If the room is cold it's likely because it has more feet of exterior wall than other rooms, because it's hvac is inadequate, or vents and cold air returns are blocked, doors kept closed, or maybe there is air infiltration through leaky walls and the wind is coming from the nw. Is the floor or foundation below this room insulated?
Chandlers point about the insulation is a good one. Your attic insulation should probably be about 2 feet deep. Can't have both.
If the room is cold it's likely because it has more feet of exterior wall than other rooms, because it's hvac is inadequate, or vents and cold air returns are blocked, doors kept closed, or maybe there is air infiltration through leaky walls and the wind is coming from the nw. Is the floor or foundation below this room insulated?
Chandlers point about the insulation is a good one. Your attic insulation should probably be about 2 feet deep. Can't have both.
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I bought the house in 2010. The inspector mentioned the insulation was doubled in the attic. The attic has the boards down to use it as storage. What you are saying is I would have to insulate the attic and not have it used as storage correct? Insulating under the roof in the attic wouldn't help to allow me to use the attic for storage? This video is one I saw where they insulate from outside the existing walls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfnzGng0pmg The attic is the entire length of the house (raised ranch) It might be colder as you mentioned because it is a corner room of the house so more exterior space.My father in law checked the HVAC (he owns a HVAC company) and everything is good with that dept.( I have central air) but floor board radiators for heat. The floor below is the finished basement. Its insulated but could probably use more insulation in between.
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It may boil down to who hired the inspector, and was he recommended by the Real Estate Company. If the latter, he was just an instrument to facilitate the sale of the house, no more. The insulation being "doubled" could be misleading, since your area could require R38 or more, and doubling it would mean quite a loft. Compressing insulation reduces its insulative qualities, so the flooring is a "want" item while the insulation is a "need" item, but your choice.
The video shows the standard way of insulating a wall that has none in it to begin with. If it had fiberglas batts, or other insulation in the wall it would inhibit the installation to a great degree.
I didn't see anything about insulating through a shingle, so the jury is still out on that.
The video shows the standard way of insulating a wall that has none in it to begin with. If it had fiberglas batts, or other insulation in the wall it would inhibit the installation to a great degree.
I didn't see anything about insulating through a shingle, so the jury is still out on that.