Attic Insulation

If properly installed, attic insulation is one of the best ways to reduce your energy bills and improve the efficiency of your home. Attics are often one of the easiest areas of your home to insulate but there are also precautions that need to be considered.

Older style vermiculite insulation can contain asbestos, which can cause serious illness if inhaled including mesotheliom and lung cancer. Seek the advice of a professional insulation team if you are unsure about what is in your roof. A professional attic insulation team will ensure that the following points are covered:

• Seals are placed around chimneys, exhaust fans and other openings;
• Metal flashing is installed near heating producing equipment, like chimneys and hot water systems;
• That insulation doesn't block soffit vents; and
• That the best type of insulation is used for your climate and building.

Some of the major types of attic insulation materials that are used are:

• Loose Fill Insulation - This is usually made of fiberglass, fiber pellets or rock wool. Because loose fill insulation is blown into place using a pneumatic pump, this type of material is best suited to hard to reach attics where cavities, nooks and corners would be difficult to reach with other type of insulation;
• Rolls & Batts - These are easy to install as they simply roll into place and are available in a range of sizes. Typically walls that are constructed using 2 x 4 timber frames can fit R-13 or R-15 type bats, which offer solid insulation protection in many environments;
• Rigid Foam Insulation - These types of insulation materials are used in professional jobs and in larger buildings. Due to the composition of the insulation material, rigid foam insulation is thinner than similar R-Rated insulation and allows insulators to do more with less. Rigid foam insulation can cost more than regular insulation and it is worth discussing this with a professional; and
• Foam Place insulation - A setting foam that is useful around door frames and windows. It has the benefit of being very flexible in its application.

You may also use a combination of the above methods to get the best possible insulation for your home.