Should I Insulate My Attic Roof

Radiant heat from the sun beats.

Should i insulate my attic roof. Home ceilings are usually insulated in order to seal off the extreme temperatures in your attic. A good rule of thumb is that standard insulation should be inspected to see if it needs to be replaced at least every fifteen years. If your attic is often used or perhaps you plan to convert it in the future you will need to insulate the inner surfaces of the roof. When you have warm insulation the attic space is kept warm in the winter as the heat from the furnace can reach it.

The technically correct approach depends on a number of factors. You also may need to insulate at the roofline if you live in a hot and humid climate. Don t forget the roofline if your attic is part of your living space or you live in a home with a cathedral ceiling or other low pitch type. After this amount of time insulation begins to peel away from the walls and degrade.

Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. Plan to pull up the flooring and layer new insulation on top of the old. If you d like to finish your attic you will need warm insulation. If you decide to insulate at the roof level then that is a decision to bring the attic into the conditioned space of the house so you re correct the gables would be sealed up and you keep a clear channel for air between the insulation and the roof deck.

For a correct approach an inner roof lining is required. Warm insulation is installed on the underside of the roof deck at the top of the attic just below the roof decking. If your attic is usable space but not lived in then you won t need to insulate the roof rafters as long as the ceiling floor that separates the roof from your living area below is insulated.