How to Prep Your Attic for Insulation
Adding insulation to your attic insulation is an inexpensive way to improve home comfort and lower energy costs. But you need to do it properly. Otherwise, your new insulation won’t provide the high R-value it was designed for.
Before you begin, get access to your attic. Whether it’s a hatch hidden in a closet ceiling or a vent panel tucked in a corner, you need to be able to enter the attic space easily. You’ll also need a ladder or chair to help you get up there, as well as a pair of work lamps to ensure you can see as you go along.
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Start by removing all boxes, furniture, and other storage items from the attic. It’s not safe to store anything up there, and it will compress the insulation, reducing its effectiveness. Stored insulation loses up to half of its insulating power.
Assess the existing materials in your attic, such as fiberglass batts or blown-in cellulose. Check the R-value, which varies by climate zone and is recommended to be between R-30 and R-60.
Identify all areas where air can leak into the living spaces below (conduction/convection/radiation). You will need to seal these with caulking or weather stripping before installing new insulation. Also, if you have recessed light fixtures in the attic, be sure to “box” them out of the attic with plywood or metal flashing to reduce fire risks.
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