Insulating your home is a great way to reduce heating and cooling costs, improve comfort, and save energy. If you live in a hot climate, there are some special considerations to keep in mind when installing attic insulation. The type of insulation you select depends on the space available, the apparent density of the materials, the ease of access to the space, your budget, and whether you are constructing a new house or upgrading an existing one. If you're constructing a new home, you may want to consider installing insulation at the bottom of the roof cover and sealing the attic space by creating an “unventilated attic”.
This approach is allowed in the Florida Building Code and requires that certain conditions be met regarding insulation, air permeability, and the attic air barrier. You can measure the thickness of the attic insulation with a ruler and multiply the number of inches by the R-value of that particular insulation to get an insulation rating. This helps reduce heat loss from the housing unit during wintertime. If you feel like a lot of cold or hot air is escaping, it's very likely that it's time to invest in better attic insulation. In two-story houses, floor beams are not always isolated from adjacent attic spaces rather than single-story spaces, and attic air is right next to the roof. In addition, the overall R value of a wall or roof will be somewhat different from the R value of the insulation itself, since part of the heat flows around the insulation through the uprights and beams of wooden or steel frame buildings (thermal bridge).
Make sure that the roof or walls can withstand any additional weight derived from the additional insulation before installation. You can find a variety of information about insulating homes on websites from organizations such as North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. In addition, for businesses and consumers who have concerns about misleading advertising, improper installation, and other insulation-related considerations, there is a Federal Trade Commission rule designed to protect them (Title 16, Business Practices, Part 460, Labeling and Advertising of Home Insulation Materials).The effectiveness of an insulated wall or roof also depends on how and where the insulation is installed. If you're not sure what type of insulation already exists in your home, take a sample to an insulation expert. Features include information about installation and tools that determine the insulation needed in your state and your projected energy savings. Finally, make sure to remove any old insulation before installing new insulation.
If you don't remove it and don't seal any leaks before installing new insulation, you may end up with more problems in your home in the future.
