Attic Insulation For Older Home

One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior.

Attic insulation for older home.

I get asked a lot about insulating old houses especially in the wintertime. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation.

People fall in love with the character rich architecture of these homes but they don t want the crazy heating and cooling bills that come along with that character. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation.

But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. Builder s knew that water was the 1 enemy of any house and the way they built may have allowed water to get into the walls in minute amounts but due to the extraordinary looseness in the building envelope the house. Replace old windows with energy efficient units.

In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. Recommended home insulation r values.

These older homes were largely built without insulation and just open cavities in the walls where the house could breathe. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Install siding over the insulation. Depending on the type it could be dangerous to your health damaged or simply too old to be as effective as modern insulation.

Chances are good that if your house was built before the 1960 s there is little to no insulation. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. When preparing for renovations of older homes you will likely encounter old insulation.