How To Insulate Your Attic Rafters

If you have a solid floor covering the roof rafters use the claw end of a hammer to pull the floor up in several locations and blow the insulation under the boards.

How to insulate your attic rafters. Don t be duped into thinking other types of insulation will give you a tight air seal. Install ventilation baffles into the space between the rafters before you install the insulation usually by stapling into place. Then blow another layer on top of the roof rafters. Staple it to the rafters or scabbed on boards with a staple gun so that the paper backing is toward the interior of the room to act as a vapor barrier.

Then pivot in place and do the same thing to the other side. If you re considering turning your attic into conditioned storage or living space it s worth changing tactics to insulate between the rafters and wall joists instead of the floor. Fill every joist space completely and evenly with the insulation leaving attic vents uncovered. 2d extend insulation into joist space to reduce air flows.

Plus spraying the rafters also uses more spray foam it s a larger surface area. With a helper to load the blower with insulation as needed start at the perimeter of the attic and work toward the attic access door. If your attic is going to be converted into livable space then you will need to insulate the roof rafters. That air seal means you keep the air you heated or cooled inside your home.

Make sure the paper flange and the staples lie flat against the board to create an even surface for attaching the finished wall material. Attach the insulation to the rafter scab board by the paper flange so as not to compress the fiberglass. Blow in insulation until the hopper is empty. Typically you will fill the insulation blower with the insulation and blow it between the attic floor joists.

If you do need to do your rafters use closed cell foam it green. Use 3 8 inch heavy duty staples every six inches. Don a long sleeved shirt safety glasses gloves and a dust mask to prevent irritating fiberglass from reacting with. You can use rigid foam panels or do as tom silva does with nearly all houses these days.

You get a seamless air barrier and high r value even in just 1 inch. For the center areas hold the hose level and blow in insulation evenly until you ve reached your level lines photo 6. Hire a pro to install spray foam insulation. Level uneven spots with a rake.

How to install rafter insulation. And it keeps the cold or hot outside air outside.