Even in a house with an unconditioned basement, the basement is more connected to other living spaces than to the outside, which makes basement wall insulation preferable to ceiling insulation. How to Ventilate an Attic With a Metal Roof. However, most cathedral ceilings and low-slope (flat) roofs are insulated roof assemblies: with this kind of roof, the insulation follows the slope of the roof. If the ducts in your home are in unconditioned space, seal and insulate them. The higher a bat's density, the less is required to reach your target R-rating. Tack, staple, or glue the panels in place, and then cover each panel with a similar-sized piece of wood or durable plastic. Fuel Efficient & Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Insulation and Air Sealing Products and Services. Most building codes require vents to aid in removing moisture from the crawlspace. When insulating floors above unconditioned garages, first seal all possible sources of air leakage. It’s best to locate the access door to the crawlspace inside the home through the subfloor unless you build and maintain an airtight, insulated access door in the perimeter wall. Adding extra insulation to the exterior walls of an older home when renovating or remodeling is a great way of improving a home's walls thermal performance and reducing energy use while reducing heating bills, carbon footprint and improving a building's comfort level. Your roof is made up of multiple layers that all help insulate and cover your house. To insulate an attic, get some batting made out of mineral wool, fiberglass, or recycled foam. This is ideal if you don’t use your loft at all, or only for the storage of non-perishable items. One good solution to this problem is a raised-heel truss. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. All exterior walls, including (3A) walls between living spaces and unheated garages, shed roofs, or storage areas; (3B) foundation walls above ground level; (3C) foundation walls in heated basements, full wall either interior or exterior. Additionally, purchase some loose fill insulation to insulate corners and angles where the batting won't fit. If a house's attic (or roof) is already fully insulated, adding insulation to the walls may be the single best way to reduce heating and cooling costs. Insulating your attic can reduce that more than almost any other measure. In addition to insulation, consider moisture and air leakage control in each area of your house. If your wall cavities are not going to be open, you could consider injectable spray foam insulation. Leave a few inches around every heat source. To insulate an attic, get some batting made out of mineral wool, fiberglass, or recycled foam. Learn about the different insulation materials and insulation facings. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Insulate-an-Attic-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Insulate-an-Attic-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Insulate-an-Attic-Step-1.jpg\/aid3170546-v4-728px-Insulate-an-Attic-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"