Should Insulate Attic Rafters

1a attic access door.

Should insulate attic rafters.

If you re considering turning your attic into conditioned storage or living space it s worth changing tactics to insulate between the rafters and wall joists instead of the floor. If your attic is often used or perhaps you plan to convert it in the future you will need to insulate the inner surfaces of the roof. The attic floor which is the ceiling of the living space below often already is insulated. Hire a pro to install spray foam insulation.

If your attic is usable space but not lived in then you won t need to insulate the roof rafters as long as the ceiling floor that separates the roof from your living area below is insulated. In this case the area behind the knee wall will be uncomfortably hot or cold. If the air distribution is in the attic space then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. You only need those if you have vents in the soffits under the eaves.

In unfinished attic spaces insulate between and over the floor joists to seal off living spaces below. In order to avoid damage to the roof deck you should insulate ceilings to create an air barrier between the living space and an unfinished attic or airspace underneath the roof deck. You can use rigid foam panels or do as tom silva does with nearly all houses these days. Whether or not there is an inner roof lining and the total thickness of the roof structure.

A to keep heat from flowing upstairs there s a 5 section behind the kneewall that i didn t want heat loss. Home ceilings are usually insulated in order to seal off the extreme temperatures in your attic. The idea is to allow some air to circulate through some part of the attic under the roof but outside the insulation to prevent moisture build up. If it is and you plan to provide heating and cooling to the finished attic space you need to remove.

There are two basic ways to insulate a finished attic. I have a cape cod and did the exact same thing. For a correct approach an inner roof lining is required. You can add insulation to the floor.

If only the living space will be insulated wrap the insulation around the room s walls and ceiling and then continue along the floor of the non living space. The floor was insulated for two reasons. Yes you can insulate the floor and the rafters. Insulating between rafters will do no good because the attic should be ventilated and the rafter insulation would be between two unheated spaces.