Insulating A House Without An Attic

Recycled newsprint makes up cellulose.

Insulating a house without an attic.

Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. If you think you need more insulation consult a reputable expert. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. There is also a product available called thermadeck made in the metroplex which used in conjunction with construction like this provides an airspace and insulation.

Mini split ductless air conditioner. But if you ve got an unfinished attic giving it proper insulation is one of the simplest ways to keep a lid on your heating bill this season. Insulating a slab in an existing home can be expensive and disruptive but if the slab in your home is cold it is possible to dig around the perimeter of the house and install insulation usually foam board. It s a diy project you can tackle in a weekend and the savings you ll get add up every year says toh general contractor tom silva.

Lay a two by four on top temporarily compressing the insulation to a manageable thickness. Over insulating an attic or crawl space won t save you enough money on power bills to make the expense worthwhile. Adding some insulation to it would also be helpful. Install siding over the insulation.

I would lean toward adding rigid foam either on top of the roof or on the inside under the joists if reducing headroom isn t a problem. Depending on your climate you ll need r 30 to r 49 to meet code which is 5 to 8 1 2 inches of polyiso rigid foam which is r 6 per inch. Portable air conditioners do need to be vented to pump the hot air outside. It s a standalone unit that s about two feet tall and 18 inches wide and has wheels for mobility.

The r value is greater than fiberglass and it is fire retardant. For a greener insulation project cellulose blown in insulation is available. Caulk window trim and use weatherstripping to reduce air leaks. But this will require either cross battening and a metal roof on battens or else a new layer of decking.

The best way to insulate attic doors is to make a pillow made of insulation batting. In most parts of the united states insulating the exterior edge of a slab can reduce heating bills by 10 to 20. Replace old windows with energy efficient units.