You can lose a lot of heat during the winter if you have an attic that is not insulated. Most significantly, you can lose your expensively heated air through ceilings beneath attics that don't have insulation. It is helpful to access your ceiling and add insulation to the floor of you attic, in between the joist and stud bays. This article explains how the work can be done and what tools and supplies you need.
What You Need
First of all, there are a few ways you can add insulation to your attic joist bays. You can use spray foam or blow-in insulation. However, fiberglass batting is by far the cheapest and easiest method. It is perfect the floor of your attic because it can lay flat very easily. Also, fiberglass batting is sold in continuous rolls that are 15" wide. This means that they are the exact width of the space in between studs that are set to code. So, you can quickly roll out the fiberglass and you only need to cut it to length.
You also want to make sure you are dressed for the job. Fiberglass is very itchy, so you want to do your best to keep it off of your skin and out of your eyes. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and gloves. You will also want protective eye glasses.
Applying the Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation is much easier to apply when your stud and joist bays are clean and clear of clutter. If you have things stored in your attic, remove them completely before starting the installation. In addition to the fiberglass, you might also need some tape to hold down the fiberglass along the edges. It can peel up and away from the floor due to the fact that it is wrapped tightly in the packaging roll.
Adding Plywood to Your Attic
Even just adding the fiberglass to the bays is going to slow down heat loss. But some people will go a step further. You can lay plywood on top of your studs and joists to encapsulate the fiberglass. You don't even need to secure the boards. This will add even more insulation to your attic, and it will also make it easier to move around in your attic. You will be able to more easily store and access things in your attic now that you have a functioning floor.
To learn about alternative insulation options, contact a company that offers foam insulation services.
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