Attic Insulation: How to Choose the Right One For Your Home

Every home needs proper attic insulation. That way, the house can retain heat during the winter and the cold air in the summer. Unfortunately, not a lot of homeowners pay close attention to their attic insulation and as such, they can make poor choices when it comes time to install a new one. Given the role it plays in your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, it’s best that you know what you need to look for to make the right choice.

Here, Coleman Roofing, a leading installer of attic insulation and metal roofs, helps you choose the right attic insulation for your home.

R-Value

When it comes to attic insulation, there’s really only one requirement that you need to look at: the R-value. For the uninitiated, the R-value is a measurement that shows how well your attic insulation can resist heat flow.

With that in mind, make sure to determine what’s the recommended R-value in your area. In general, however, an attic’s R-value should always be between R-30 and R-49. If you live in an area that constantly faces cold weather, you have the option of going up to R-60.

Various Kinds of Attic Insulation

Blanket

There are three kinds of attic insulation that you can consider for your home. The first one is the easiest to install and is known as blanket insulation. Blanket insulation is usually available as batts and rolls made of fiberglass, mineral wool or plastic fibers. It’s ideal for attics with standard spaced beams with few obstructions. Blanket insulation has an R-value of 3.1 to 3.8 per inch.

Loose-Fill

The second kind of attic insulation that you can install is the loose-fill insulation. Loose-fill is great for attics with very little headroom and have multiple obstructions. This attic insulation is usually blown over existing insulation and is available in fiberglass, cellulose and mineral wool. Of the three, roofing and attic insulation pros say cellulose is the most effective due to its R-value of 2.2 to 3.8 per inch.

Spray Foam

On the other hand, if you don’t mind spending a little extra on your attic insulation, consider spray foam insulation instead. This type of insulation will require the assistance of a professional but it has one of the highest R-values, with open-cell spray foam having an R-value of 3.5 per inch and closed-cell at 6.5 per inch.

Planning to replace your roof or insulation soon? Don’t hesitate to turn to Coleman Roofing, your leading experts when it comes to residential and commercial roofing services throughout Louisiana.