Air Seal The Attic Floor

Air sealing the attic floor after considering zip sheathing for the ceiling air barrier we settled on the intello membrane instead.

Air seal the attic floor.

While you are in the attic sealing air leaks look for any ductwork that may be up there. By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. The number one prep step.

When you re done sealing your attic bypasses push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or stick as you back out of the attic. Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots. To get a better air seal. It really should be called spray foam insulation and air barrier.

If your attic floor is insulated with vermiculite a type of insulation that may contain asbestos don t touch the insulation. Air seal your attic for energy savings. A home energy company has proposed a solution that involves sealing air leaks in the bedroom ceilings attic floor sealing around the chimney weatherizing the attic hatch insulating a few roof areas that the builders missed and adding cellulose to the rest of the attic to bring it up to r 60. Gaps in the attic or between the lower floors and the attic will let heated or cooled air escape to the great unconditioned outdoors making any insulation you add essentially useless.

Sealing duct leaks can improve the efficiency of your hvac system by around 20. Spray foam insulation is an incomplete name. A properly done spray foam job not only insulates but also greatly reduces the air leakage of. Removal of vermiculite insulation should only be performed by.

Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. If you have ducts that aren t sealed you are probably leaking a lot of conditioned air into your attic space. Once you deal with the air up there this problem goes away with or without the insulation in the attic floor.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Image 1 of 4 intello is a membrane is a smart vapor retarder with a permeance that ranges from 13 2 perms to less than 0 13 perm. Don t attempt any air sealing work in an attic insulated with vermiculite. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home.