Home Improvement Through Attic Insulation
We all enjoy our homes and are constantly trying to come up with ideas to improve them. While there are many things we can do to improve the design and function of our homes, there are some things you can do to improve your carbon footprint, comfort and value of your house, while at the same time saving you on your energy bills.
Insulation is one home improvement that will do just that. Essentially it involves using certain materials to reduce the thermal exchange between the inside and outside of the building. If you live in a cold climate in winter you want to keep the heat in as much as possible. On the other hand, should you live in a hot climate in the summer, you will want to keep the cool air-conditioned air inside as much as is possible.
There are many categories of insulation and they all vary in size and cost of the project. For example, installing triple glazed windows is a large undertaking that will be beyond the average home improvement enthusiast. It is also a very expensive job to do, but it may be well worth the investment, especially if you have very old double or even single glazing.
But there are quite a few things that you can do to improve the insulation in your home, without having to invest large amounts of money or hire expensive contractors. One such project is increasing your attic insulation.
The laws of physics state that warm air rises, and that means that our ceilings and attics are a primary source of heat loss. Even if you are certain that you have an insulated attic, it may be well worth investigating whether the insulation material and the thickness is sufficient. The more you insulate the less thermal exchange will take place.
One of the easiest ways to add insulation to your attic is by using blown in insulation. This is generally a fiberglass material that is fed into a pumping machine. All you need to do is point the pumping nozzle in the direction that you want to have the insulation laid and turn on the machine.
The great thing about fiberglass is that once it is pumped into the attic it does not flatten over time, it will always maintain its thickness and insulating properties, which means that it really is a once off job that someone with only basic DIY skills can perform.
How much insulation you pump into your attic will depend entirely on your budget, but once you have decided to go ahead with it, you might as well pump in as much as possible. Bear in mind that there are very good tax advantages for insulation projects, which will help to reduce the costs.
Attic insulation is by far one of the easiest ways to benefit you pocket and have an impact on the environment. But it will also increase the value of your home should you ever decide to sell it, as most people these days look at energy efficiency before making a final decision to buy.
