Attic ceiling insulation

Dave C · 2014-02-26T15:31:35+00:00

I have a large, unfinished attice, with ceiling height of ~ 10 feet at the peak. Currently there is no insulation on the roof or side walls. In the summer it is extremely hot, refrigerator like during the Connecticut winters. I am sure the attic temps extremes adversely effect the temps in our living area, the first two floors. I would like to add insulation, but unsure how to proceed. Do I add battt insulation; with or without a vapor barrier? Would it be prudent to also add add a radiant barrier. Can I apply sheet rock over the suggested insualtion, to have a "finished' room? dave BTW I am new to this site, after I saw a link on another site. I am sure impressed with the breadth of advise here - Great Find !!

Feb 26, 2014 25 Replies

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DerbyDad03 12 years ago

Stolen without permission from:

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Dave C 12 years ago

As noted, I am new to this site. I will learn, how to more accurately post my questions.

Answers to some of the comments received:

1) I just became aware of this Usenet site, as a result of a "mis-post" to alt.windows7.general. His "doorbell install question" was obviously NOT a Win 7 question. When I inquired of that poster, he noted this site was the intended posting site. 2) My house is not a hut ! Iindeed it if I wanted to sell it, I could easily get over $1M. It is a 3 story house (inc referenced, unfinished attic) that is situated ~ 15 feet from Long Island Sound. 3) A major mistake that I made in my initial post, was NOT noting that our attic is now basically a large, but unfinished room. There is no ATTIC roof or wall insulation. There is existing attic floor insulation (unknown depth??) between our attic floor and the second floor living area.

-4) The attic has 3 windows areas - each with 2 to 4 window panes - that open and provide summer cooling/ vent openings. I also use a fan to increase the air exchange. In the winter, that un-heateed attic is obviously real cold (CT).

-5) We get a LOT of solar heating, from the sun reflecting off the ocean. That solar heating often, on sunny days, can raise our living space temps by well over 25 degrees. (This second floor room is now 68 degrees, and the only heat is from "waste heat" from my PC. The Branford outside temp is

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trader4 12 years ago

See my earlier post.

I also thought that

If the intent is to reduce the heat/cold going into the living space, then the most effective solution is to add insulation, eg blown in cellulose. If the intent is to make the attic a finished liveing space, then that's a whole different matter.

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notbob 12 years ago

Oops! My bad. Wrong guy.

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epdmroofers 12 years ago

So let's say your attic has 200 square feet over which the ceiling is at le ast 5 feet high. Your window area must be at least 8% of 200 square feet (1

6 square feet). Meanwhile, the 4% openable area requirement means you need 8 square feet (4% of 200, that is) providing access to the outside.

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