Attics are one of the main sources of heat gain and heat loss for a home—which is why it’s vital to make sure attics are insulated properly. If you notice your home is struggling with keeping a consistent temperature or has ridiculously high utility bills, it’s possible your attic insulation is to blame.

Poor attic insulation affects:

• Home temperature regulation

• Energy costs

• Moisture barriers

• Property Value

 

Home Temperature Regulation

Do you find your air conditioning constantly running in the summer months while your heater never stops in the winter? That’s an issue! As we mentioned earlier, attics are responsible for the majority of heat intake and heat loss, which affects the performance of your home and its comfort. 

Fiberglass insulation is common for insulating attics; however, it allows for conditioned air to pass through. A proper sealing material, like spray foam insulation, will ensure a strong thermal barrier and help regulate indoor temperatures. 

 

Energy Costs

Poor attic insulation greatly affects energy costs. When your home temperature is constantly fluctuating, expect your utility bills to skyrocket. More than just the dollar amount on the invoice, poor attic insulation takes a toll on the environment with inefficient energy use. So do yourself—and the environment—a favor by properly insulating your attic.

 

Moisture Barriers

Living in the greater Triangle Area, we’re no strangers to humidity or added moisture—but that doesn’t mean we want those in our homes! When homes aren’t properly sealed for moisture barriers, there can be an increase in the breakdown of your home materials (walls, flooring, etc.) as well as an opportunity for mold and mildew to breed, causing additional damage.

 

Property Value

While you might not be actively trying to sell your home, it’s important to consider the way attic insulation affects your property value. During a home inspection, if the inspector notices or deems the attic to be under-insulated or notices gaps or breaks in the insulation, he could label the attic insulation as “Poor” or “Deficient”, which can be a red flag (read: costly fix) to the potential homebuyer. For your benefit, and to avoid any potential home selling issues, we recommend proper attic insulation. 

 

Attic insulation is a nonnegotiable for homes.

 

In choosing the right insulation material for your attic, we recommend spray foam. 

Why is spray foam the preferred material for insulating an attic? 

Simply put, spray foam insulation never settles and properly seals the attic. With spray foam insulation, we offer both open-cell spray foam and closed-cell spray foam. Each of these will be effective in insulating your attic space; however, we recommend having an expert evaluate your space to determine the best fit. 

While the entire attic needs to be insulated to ensure a proper seal, make sure the following spaces are treated:

• Attic window seals

• “Knee” walls

• The underside of the roof

Note: If a part of your attic cannot be accessed, it’s important to make sure it is isolated from the areas that can be accessed so hot or cold air does not penetrate through to the sealed attic area. 

 

Now, if you’re wondering about the condition of your attic, we recommend you take our free insulation quiz! Our team of trusted experts is ready to evaluate your home’s attic for proper insulation.