Adding Attic Insulation To Old House

Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks.

Adding attic insulation to old house.

Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. Replace old windows with energy efficient units. Turn off the power to the outlet.

3 have a friend add material to the hopper. Block all vents in the attic floor with baffles making sure to extend the baffles at least four inches above the planned thickness of your insulation. How to insulate an old house. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates.

You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet. Before you begin the installation of insulation.

Make sure you use an unfaced batt one without a paper or foil layer so the insulation does not trap moisture in the ceiling. Lay the batts perpendicular to the joists so. Let s apply this knowledge to your. Fill the gaps your insulated attic isn t necessarily a sealed attic.

This old house general contractor tom silva explains the wide world of spray foam insulation how to install insulation learn how to beef up your wall s weather protection in 4 easy steps. The easiest way to add attic insulation is with fiberglass batts. How to insulate walls in an old house. How to install attic insulation over existing insulation wear a long sleeve shirt gloves eye protection and a dust mask.

Why the attic is key 1. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help. If the existing insulation is near or above the top of the joists it is a good idea to place the new batts perpendicular to the old ones because that will help to cover the tops of the joists themselves and reduce thermal bridging through the frame.

We all know that hot air rises as cool air sinks to a low level. Install siding over the insulation. Many old houses had some attic insulation usually cellulose or rock wool but these materials lose their effectiveness over time.