Should You Insulate Attic Roof Rafters

Attic moisture problems are often the result of heated air from the living space rising up into the attic which is not heated.

Should you insulate attic roof rafters.

For rolled insulation location it in between roof covering rafters. Hire a pro to install spray foam insulation. You only need those if you have vents in the soffits under the eaves. Insulating the attic floor.

But the best solution is actually to insulate both the attic floor and the underside of the roof. At the same time the areas below the roof benefit from increased comfort both during the winter and the summer. 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. Consumers are often told by spray foam contractors to do the rafters.

Air movement is critical in the attic so. If you do not use the attic much it is pointless heating this area. This will have the best return on investment if you live in an area with more than 2000 cooling degree days. You can add insulation to the floor.

Usually you will certainly fill the insulation blower with the insulation and blow it between the attic floor joists. If your attic is going to be converted into livable space then you will need to insulate the roof rafters. You can use rigid foam panels or do as tom silva does with nearly all houses these days. Insulating between rafters will do no good because the attic should be ventilated and the rafter insulation would be between two unheated spaces.

If you live in the south you should consider putting in a radiant barrier in the attic. If you re not do the attic floor. The idea is to allow some air to circulate through some part of the attic under the roof but outside the insulation to prevent moisture build up. In order to avoid damage to the roof deck you should insulate ceilings to create an air barrier between the living space and an unfinished attic or airspace underneath the roof deck.

However if you super insulate your attic ie r 30 or better then it becomes redundent. When choosing unfaced batting insulation for rafters you must staple sheets of plastic over the batting to accomplish the necessary moisture barrier. Install ventilation baffles into the space between the rafters before you install the insulation usually by stapling into place. Make sure it is flush against the wood as also a 1 inch gap can create a 20 percent heating loss.

If you have vents in the walls of the attic or in the roof ridge then the insulation can go all the way to the roof.