Old House Roof Insulation

You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall and possibly how thick it is.

Old house roof insulation.

This old house general contractor tom silva shows how he installs roofing and siding to keep a house buttoned up and dry. Your area may have a different standard so be sure to check first. Install siding over the insulation. Strictly speaking there s no practical upper limit for attic insulation depth.

One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Old house insulation strategy 1. Are they 2 6 2 8 or bigger. Like other batt type insulation fiberglass has a predictable r value if not compressed but is difficult to fit around obstacles without leaving gaps.

Just because you find insulation in one wall doesn t mean that it s everywhere in the house. Wood can wet without issue but keep it wet and then the problems arise. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing.

Measure the size of the roof rafters. Replace old windows with energy efficient units. If you live in a warm climate you require a lower r value. The insulation must meet doe standards.

Check outlets on all floors as well as old and new parts of your house. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. If you have an unfinished and unconditioned attic like many old houses my first recommendation would be to add batt insulation on the underside of the roof. Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check.

The format of house insulation you need depends on where you put it and if you need to control moisture. Fiberglass batts the insulation found in most houses in the u s are inexpensive and quick to install. Cutting batts of fiberglass insulation a neat trick for making tidy cuts. Cold areas require a higher r value like an r 49.

Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Always use unfaced batts both when laying product for the first time and to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between new and old layers of insulation. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help determine the type of insulation. 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.

Increase your r value by layering insulation. Layer more insulation over the old for more effectiveness. The bigger they are the thicker the insulation you can fit. Here are just a few of the highlights.

For most of the us the doe s standard is r 38. In most climates it needs a vapor barrier. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Maximize attic insulation this is simple and not particularly unique to older homes but it s also the easiest and least expensive energy upgrade you can do.