Disputanta, VA's Reliable Crawl Space Repair & Insulation Professionals

A Disputanta, VA homeowner contacted us because they were interested in making their home more comfortable.

At our inspection, we found that the attic had existing blown-in fiberglass insulation on the ceiling, while other spots had no insulation at all. There is little to no protection between the attic and the living space of this home. Air leakage is also a concern as gaps in the home allow air to be sucked up toward the top of the house and escape into the unconditioned attic through a process called the stack effect. The holes in this home, and almost every home, are naturally created at construction. These openings include recessed can lights, top plates, bath fans, plumbing and electrical penetrations, ductwork, and chimneys. In addition, the ductwork in the attic is subject to these conditions. In the summer, the attic is sweltering and heats up the duct lines and the air in them. In the winter, the attic is the same temperature as it is outside and cools the duct lines and the air in them making it more difficult and expensive to heat and cool the home. This leaves the homeowners with rooms that are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

The homeowner initially asked us about installing a radiant barrier in the attic. The thinking behind radiant barriers is that it will reflect heat back into the home. However, to be effective, the radiant barrier needs to be shiny. Since it is installed at an angle, on the attic rafters, air is blown across it through the vents. This air carries particles, dust, and dirt with it, making the radiant barrier dull and dirty. They don’t work well on the attic floor because they need air space to reflect the heat back in, so while the idea of a radiant barrier is great, they don’t reflect winter heat back into our homes as we want, and won’t achieve what this homeowner is looking for.

Instead of installing a radiant barrier, which would do little to keep heat in the home in the winter and would not make an impactful difference in the homeowner’s comfort, we recommended properly air sealing and insulating the attic.

To achieve this, we would begin by either moving aside or removing the existing insulation, this is subject to the homeowner’s preference, to air seal. Air sealing means plugging all holes from the living space to the attic including the can lights, by using fire retardant Rockwool covers and air sealing foam, sealing all top plates, and around any electrical, plumbing or other utility penetrations. This will slow the escape of conditioned air into unconditioned space, allowing the air you paid to heat and cool to stay in the home longer. Then we would install new blown-in cellulose insulation. Cellulose has a higher R-value per inch than blown fiberglass and is made of 85% recycled materials and 15% new material, it is also treated with a borate solution that helps to deter pests and is fire retardant, meaning it will not ignite, only smolder. To prevent any insulation from falling out, we would install PVs (proper vents) at the soffit vents and build a dam around the attic access. We would insulate the scuttle access of the attic and fit it with a gasket to help reduce heat radiating out of the attic access and air escaping around it.

If the homeowner chooses to take this approach, they will see a noticeable difference in the comfort of their home and its ability to keep heat in the winter months and out in the summer. As an added benefit they will have lower energy bills and fewer drafts in their home.