Instaling Attic Batt Insulation

Insulate your attic with fiberglass batts.

Instaling attic batt insulation.

Lay the batts across the ceiling joists covering the existing insulation. Cut the insulation roll or batt to fit the length of the framing cavity if necessary. When it comes to insulating your attic there are really only two types of insulation worth considering fiberglass batts or blown in insulation. Blown in insulation consists of bags of fiberglass or cellulose that are chopped up and blown in to the attic or wall from a machine.

Use our roll insulation calculator to estimate how much roll or batt insulation you ll need. Install baffles against the roof sheathing between rafters so insulation does not seal up these avenues of air circulation. Set a t square or metal straightedge over the insulation and press it down firmly. Next any stored belongings or debris in the attic are removed and stored in a safe location that is out of the way.

The basic installation steps are the same for walls ceilings floors and roofs in wood frame houses. Position the batt of insulation at the outer edge of the attic and roll the batt in the channel between the joists toward the center of the attic. Place the insulation with the facing side down on a piece of scrap plywood. Of length for a tighter fit.

Leave an extra 1 2 in. Make sure you use an unfaced batt one without a paper or foil layer so the insulation does not trap moisture in the ceiling. If you re insulating framed walls make sure the insulation is the correct thickness for your wall studs. This allows the termination of the batt in an area.

Old insulation is removed and the attic space is cleaned out. To view the next video in this series click here. Air movement is critical in the attic so moisture moves outside the home. Wear a long sleeve shirt gloves eye protection and a dust mask.

You can install fiberglass batts yourself right over existing insulation but follow these precautions. Installing attic insulation requires first preparing the surfaces around the attic entry to ensure that any contaminants in the attic aren t spread throughout the home. Cut batts to length by setting the top of the batt into the space and cutting against the bottom plate with a sharp utility knife. While wearing dust mask and gloves carry r 38 batts of unfaced fiberglass insulation into the attic.