An attic that is insulated well makes your home much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer which saves you a ton of money on your energy bill. It also keeps you comfortable which is important too. Attic insulation installation is pretty easy to do and relatively inexpensive.

The first step is buying the insulation that you will be putting into your attic. This might be cellulose, fiberglass batts, or foil depending on your needs. The first consideration is how much r-value you need with your insulation. When you go to the store you will notice that all the bags have a r-value rating on their labels. The higher the r-value, the greater its resistance to heat transfer. The amount of r-value that you need depends on where you live and what type of heating system is in your home. The Department of Energy has a ZIP Code Insulation Program website that can help you determine how much insulation you’ll need based on your ZIP code. It is a pretty neat tool. You will also need to calculate how much insulation you’ll need. This will require a measuring tape, calculator, and your noggin. You should probably buy a little bit extra just in case and you can always return what you don’t use.

Things you will need when it is time to install your attic insulation:

• Gloves
• Full-covering clothes
• Mask
• Utility knife
• Measuring tape
• Insulation

This is a job that can definitely be completed by one person, but it helps to have a helper. You will want to begin at the end of one side of the attic space and work your way back to the attic access. Make sure to carefully keep your weight on the joists in your attic. Either unroll the insulation batts or blow in the insulation with a machine. Take care not to step on and compress any of the insulation. Make sure that you fully cover every area of the attic out to the edges. Depending on the type of insulation you use, you will want to keep the insulation away from recessed fixtures or wiring that might cause a fire from flammable insulation. You might want to bring a small piece of plywood into the attic with you so that you can kneel as you work without having to balance on the joists. Once you have covered the whole area with insulation then you are done. It really was that easy!