Attic Insulation For Older Home

In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles.

Attic insulation for older home.

Insulation level are specified by r value. Chances are good that if your house was built before the 1960 s there is little to no insulation. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

When preparing for renovations of older homes you will likely encounter old insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Builder s knew that water was the 1 enemy of any house and the way they built may have allowed water to get into the walls in minute amounts but due to the extraordinary looseness in the building envelope the house.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today but even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years.

But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous. I get asked a lot about insulating old houses especially in the wintertime. Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

These older homes were largely built without insulation and just open cavities in the walls where the house could breathe. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. People fall in love with the character rich architecture of these homes but they don t want the crazy heating and cooling bills that come along with that character. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Depending on the type it could be dangerous to your health damaged or simply too old to be as effective as modern insulation. Replace old windows with energy efficient units. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. Install siding over the insulation.

Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. Learn how to identify old ceiling insulation. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.