Insulating A House Without An Attic

In most parts of the united states insulating the exterior edge of a slab can reduce heating bills by 10 to 20.

Insulating a house without an attic.

A portable air conditioner is the easiest solution for cooling your attic. If you think you need more insulation consult a reputable expert. 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. Finally run a standard utility knife along the edge of the lumber through the insulation and down to.

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. The best way to insulate attic doors is to make a pillow made of insulation batting. One way to insulate walls of an old house is to focus on the home s exterior. Over insulating an attic or crawl space won t save you enough money on power bills to make the expense worthwhile.

For a greener insulation project cellulose blown in insulation is available. The r value is greater than fiberglass and it is fire retardant. 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. 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.

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. It s a standalone unit that s about two feet tall and 18 inches wide and has wheels for mobility. Recycled newsprint makes up cellulose. Apply a house wrap vapor barrier to exterior walls.

Install siding over the insulation. Attach 1 inch foam board insulation. Mini split ductless air conditioner. Lay a two by four on top temporarily compressing the insulation to a manageable thickness.

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. Replace old windows with energy efficient units. But this will require either cross battening and a metal roof on battens or else a new layer of decking.