Attic Insulation Advice With Knee Walls

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Attic insulation advice with knee walls.

Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Knee walls also provide pockets for additional insulation in the attic. As a comparison we can just barley see the horizontal ceiling joists.

As shown in the graphic above the knee wall lets in air from your eaves into the attic space. Another alternative for knee walls conditions is to remove and reinstall the batt insulation to qii standards. Rake walls it s easier to handle than plywood or thermo ply and still gives you an r 19 r121 assembly depending on the original batt insulation installed. Rather than leaving this space empty homeowners can fill it with insulation for additional thermal protection.

Not so on these knee walls. As i researched the possibility of insulating the attic space in my knee wall i learned that it was a major contributor to wasted energy. The blue lines representing insulation and hardboard on the graphic did not exist in my attic. It is very easy to see where the studs are on this knee wall.

In this case the area behind the knee wall will be uncomfortably hot or cold. Insulate the sloped ceiling. Air seal and insulate the kneewall. Knee walls are not found in all attics and they are not absolutely necessary.

When the insulation is blown in on the attic floor all of the joists are covered and well insulated. The exact height of the knee wall is your choice. In this case the knee wall area becomes a cold space like traditional attic areas. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

If you plan to insulate a kneewall and the attic floor behind the kneewall. Then cover that same area with an r 8 fsk affixing it using cap nails. In tight attics or odd shaped wall conditions i e. If your attic space is framed with rafters and is unfinished it has a triangular shape.

Proper air blocks air barriers for example covering the insulation on the attic side and between the attic floor joists below the knee wall should be present. Two ways to insulate attic kneewalls good. If only the living space will be insulated wrap the insulation around the room s walls and ceiling and then continue along the floor of the non living space. It s usually easier and more effective to insulate the sloped ceiling rather than.

Filling the space behind the knee walls with insulation helps to lock in your home s thermal energy. As well the access door should be insulated and sealed appropriately. But they are awfully good to have.