Old House Roof Insulation

Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks.

Old house roof insulation.

Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. 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. Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help determine the type of insulation. The bigger they are the thicker the insulation you can fit.

Old house insulation strategy 1. You should be able to see if there is insulation in the wall and possibly how thick it is. For most of the us the doe s standard is r 38. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer.

Layer more insulation over the old for more effectiveness. Wood can wet without issue but keep it wet and then the problems arise. 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. Cold areas require a higher r value like an r 49.

If you live in a warm climate you require a lower r value. In most climates it needs a vapor barrier. 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. Install siding over the insulation.

Fiberglass batts the insulation found in most houses in the u s are inexpensive and quick to install. Just because you find insulation in one wall doesn t mean that it s everywhere in the house. The format of house insulation you need depends on where you put it and if you need to control moisture. 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.

Like other batt type insulation fiberglass has a predictable r value if not compressed but is difficult to fit around obstacles without leaving gaps. Increase your r value by layering insulation. Here are just a few of the highlights. You have many choices for your insulation batting.

Your area may have a different standard so be sure to check first. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Check outlets on all floors as well as old and new parts of your house. Strictly speaking there s no practical upper limit for attic insulation depth.

You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. The insulation must meet doe standards.

Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls. Cutting batts of fiberglass insulation a neat trick for making tidy cuts. The attic is often the easiest place to add insulation. Measure the size of the roof rafters.