Attic Is Full Of Fiberglass

Fiberglass attic insulation one of the most popular home improvement projects for both diyers and professional contractors.

Attic is full of fiberglass.

Then a few decades later we come by and stuff those cavities full of fiberglass which acts like a sponge and we wonder why our old house is having so many problems. Adding insulation where it was never designed to go mainly the walls of an old house causes a host of problems all due to the moisture issues it creates. To gain access to an attic often a piece of sheetrock needs to be moved away from the access point. It also can help increase the value of your home.

If the access into the attic is in a closet or another part of the house it must be treated as an important part of the thermal envelope. Its r value ranges from as low as 2 2 to as high as 4 3 in the case of specially manufactured high density fiberglass. Inspecting your attic insulation. The first step of your project will be choosing an insulation type.

The reason for this is simply because the glass fibers work exceptionally well with insulating temperature. It s available in fiberglass mineral wool plastic fibers and natural fibers. Fiberglass is like the mcdonald s big mac of insulation material. Yes there was a study from the early 1990s that showed blown fiberglass in attics could lose 50 of its r value when the attic temperature dropped.

See my article for more details. The problem was the way the insulation was made and the fiberglass industry fixed the problem. This type of insulation is ideal for attics with standard spaced beams and joists and very few obstructions. It s certainly not the highest quality option but it s easily the most popular.

If you re just beginning the process of adding or replacing insulation throughout your house the attic is the perfect place to start. Fiberglass is also water and fire resistant which means it isn t a fire risk material and it can t absorb or hold water. Adding insulation to the attic is an easy and proven way to increase home comfort and decrease energy costs. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live.

Compression in fiberglass insulation is a bad thing. It is important that a piece of fiberglass be physically attached to the back of this sheetrock with glue.