Do You Have To Replace Attic Insulation

Any moldy insulation should be replaced immediately.

Do you have to replace attic insulation.

If you have an older home chances are the attic insulation is the same insulation that was installed when the house was built. Because the simplest and cheapest way to insulate an attic is to add material to the floor. This is especially true if you re installing rigid foam insulation where you d need to tear off the shingles to access the sheathing anyway. You may be wondering if you can add new insulation on top of old insulation or if you need to completely remove and replace it.

It it time to re insulate your home. The insulation in your attic helps keep your home energy efficient and comfortable but not if it s damaged. By the time you pay for materials and labor for sealing and insulating existing ducts it will usually shake out to a price that s close to what it costs to get new ones. A rule of thumb visible floor joints mean you don t have enough insulation experts say.

You ll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls. Mold can grow from the warm humid atmosphere in an attic causing hazardous air quality for your home. If it s been years or if you ve never gone up there it may be time to think about your insulation. If your contractor does things the way we do replacement also results in a better duct system that keeps you more comfortable and maximizes efficiency.

Believe it or not there are situations in a home when you should remove the old attic insulation before adding more over the existing and in this short video. Removal and replacement of attic insulation including sealing penetrations from below assuming you already have the standard vapor barrier on top of the topfloor ceiling drywall should run in the 1 2 sf range in a normally accessible attic if low headroom less than 5 feet or so down the middle or low headroom flat roof then closer to 3 sf. If you need attic or roof insulation your roofing replacement is the time to do it. Blown in insulation is satisfactory for many unfinished attics as long as it doesn t get wet or compressed.

It s up to you but it s generally more cost effective to replace the ducts. The short answer is that you can choose either one it really depends on the situation. Some homes unfortunately especially older homes have too little insulation damp or. Attic floor insulation works as the main barrier to prevent heat from escaping when it spreads to the attic through a process called thermal flow.

In some cases roofers have been known to help with blown in insulation as well. But if the floor is covered in plywood you can t stuff enough insulation beneath it to do the job sufficiently not even in warm climates.