Installing Attic Floor Insulation

Place the insulation with the facing side down on a piece of scrap plywood.

Installing attic floor insulation.

Attic dek flooring is an easy to install floor option that provides additional storage space supporting up to 250 lbs. The r values of both insulations will accumulate. Whether using loose fill or batts put the vapor barrier closest to the warm side of your installation where hot moist air would get in facing the house s interior in cold climates beneath floor insulation and the attic s interior in hot climates on top of floor insulation. The first layer will sit between the joists and the second layer will run perpendicular over the joists.

If using insulation with a vapor retardant facing install the material with the vapor retardant side down. To install insulation batts and blankets. You should install two layers of insulation in your attic. Build up the height of the joists prior to installing flooring when the insulation reaches the tops of the joists.

Wood joists must be covered to allow the air to move. For example if your attic already has fiberglass insulation blankets installed you can improve its r value by installing blown in cellulose insulation on top of the blankets. Set a t square or metal straightedge over the insulation and press it down firmly. 1 put on work gloves safety glasses and a dust mask before entering the attic.

Cut the insulation roll or batt to fit the length of the framing cavity if necessary. See install batt and roll insulation for details. The basic installation steps are the same for walls ceilings floors and roofs in wood frame houses. Some regions don t require a vapor barrier.

Begin at a wall and work toward the center of the attic floor or the entryway carefully placing insulation between joists and ensuring a snug fit. The type of material you use is up to you. Loose fill blown in insulation is best for tight spaces or if your attic already has a layer of insulation that just needs to be topped off. Standard joist spacing for the installation of attic flooring materials is 16 inches on center oc meaning the distance from the center of one joist to the center of the next joist is 16 inches.

Raise ceiling joists also if the attic insulation is thicker than your ceiling joists you can raise the height of the joists to above the insulation by attaching 2 3 s to their top edge before you attach the attic floor boards. The first layer should have the facing against the drywall to act as a vapor barrier.