Insulation Unfinished Attic Vs Finished Attic

Part 2 of my story please understand the difference between a unfinished attic finished attic and half story.

Insulation unfinished attic vs finished attic.

Warmer in both summer and winter if it s well insulated. Install batting between the attic s floor joists. Building codes vary by location but most require at least a 7 foot clearance for attic expansions. I have an unfinished space above my garage that i always thought was an attic.

In warmer climates an r value of 30 is recommended. Cellulose is has an r value of almost 4 0 per inch. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. This is a huge difference that i learned the hard way.

Without properly ventilating the roof your finished space can be just as unpleasant as an unfinished attic. The department of energy estimates that a properly insulated attic. To meet all three goals insulating your finished attic ventilating the roof and maximizing headroom use a combination of dense batt insulation rigid foam sheeting and air chutes. That s measured after you finish the ceiling if you don t have enough height you ll have to raise the roof line and that adds a lot to your construction costs.

That said the methods differ when it comes to finished vs. First check for head clearance. When insulating an attic you should also consider how your attic is. 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.

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. Your attic has a climate of its own. In colder northern climates an r value of 49 is recommended for adequate attic insulation. For maximum comfort create a separate zone within your hvac system for the finished space.

The goal with an unfinished attic is to seal it off from the main living space below. Without properly insulating your finished attic room will also be cold in the winter. Fiberglass insulation has an r value of roughly 3 0 per inch of thickness. It does have a door from my daughter s bedroom that we use as storage.

Unfinished or uninsulated attics need a layer of protection against air migration. There s a chance you ll need to enlarge the system if your attic wasn t heated or cooled previously so call in a pro to make sure it s up to snuff. Make sure you complete the installation correctly for the best results. Most codes require a specified minimum amount of headroom and it s tough to meet this requirement when insulating a finished attic especially since most.

Since parts of a finished attic are usually very close to the roof insulation often blocks proper ventilation that is needed under a roof structure.