Improving attic insulation is a very effective strategy. While Florida is known for its warm climate, proper attic insulation can help maintain a comfortable temperature in your home year-round, keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Heat flows from warm areas to cold areas. In Florida, this often means that heat flows from a warm exterior to an air-conditioned interior. On winter days, the heat goes from a warm interior to a cold outside.
Insulation can reduce the amount of heat that flows, reducing cooling and heating costs. Another benefit of insulating your attic is that it helps protect your home from structural damage. Without foam padding, moisture can enter the house through the roof and, once water vapor enters the house, it can cause serious problems. ENERGYSTAR recommends an R value of R-38 for most homes.
This translates to approximately 12 inches of insulation. In addition, for businesses and consumers concerned about misleading advertising, inadequate installation, and other insulation-related issues, there is a Federal Trade Commission standard designed to protect them (Title 16, Business Practices, Part 460, Labeling and Advertising of Home Insulation). We offer other types of insulation for your home, such as rigid foam plates, non-stick insulation and fiberglass blown insulation. If you're not sure what type of insulation already exists in your home, take a sample to an insulation expert.
An insulation professional will know what type and how much insulation your home will need and local building codes. If it's time to rethink your attic insulation, contact Energy Monster to schedule your free consultation on aerosol foam insulation today. The effectiveness of an insulated wall or ceiling also depends on how and where the insulation is installed. In such an essential part of your home, you'll want to make sure your attic insulation is properly installed.
In addition, the overall R value of a wall or roof will be somewhat different from the R value of the insulation itself, since part of the heat flows around the insulation through the uprights and beams of buildings with wooden or steel structures (thermal bridges). You can measure the thickness of the attic insulation with a ruler and multiply the number of inches by the R value of that particular insulation to get an insulation index. The choice of insulation depends on the space you have to insulate it, the apparent density of the materials (weight per volume) so that the roofs don't sag with the additional weight, how easy it is to access the space, how much money you can spend, how easy it would be to replace the insulation if you had a roof or wall leak, and whether you are building a new house or improving an existing one. If you don't have enough, use a measuring tape to measure the depth of insulation in your attic. It is very important to understand that the way in which the insulation is installed is almost as important as the R value.
The insulation will trap heat in small pockets and decrease the flow of warm air from outside to the attic and vice versa. Keep in mind that your home will need to ventilate for a few days to remove vapors after installing spray foam insulation. Blow insulation, also called loose-fill insulation, is one option, and aerosol foam insulation is another option to keep attic air flowing properly. For more information on insulating materials, if applicable, the installation method and advantages, see Types of insulation.
