Insulating Attic Space

Jan 14, 2004 4 Replies

Quick one for you. Insulating unfinished inaccessible attic space. Vapor barrier or No vapor barrier. Should I insulate the gable end wall in the unfinished inaccessible space.


Just make sure you have ventilation or you will run into problems with condensation in the attic.

If I had my druthers, I'd insulate -- but not vapor barrier if the attic space was over a room in the house because moisture (which vapor barrier was meant to discourage) isn't an issue there. If the space is over somewhere outdoors, unheated, or otherwise un-livable, then by all means vapor barrier.

As for the gable end wall, "inaccessible" doesn't mean "unimportant" when it comes to insulating. Any un-insulated space sucks out heat and air conditioning, so if those two things have any importance to you whatsoever, then insulate it.

AJS

Inaccessible doesn't mean non-ventilated. If it is big enough to get into it needs ventilation. And it needs a vapor barrier against the ceiling in any case to keep the insulation dry.

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