Blackstone Exteriors

If your home in Winterset, IA needs a new roof, it’s important to make sure that the attic is well-insulated. In this blog post, local roofing repair contractor Blackstone Exteriors discusses the importance of good attic insulation and how to make sure that your roof has it.

The Importance of Good Attic Insulation

Attics cover the space between the ceiling and roof’s underside, and is part of the barrier that separates your indoor living space from the outdoors. A well-insulated attic makes indoor living spaces more comfortable by reducing thermal transfer, which helps keep heat indoors during cold seasons and outdoors during warm seasons. This, in turn, helps reduce heating and cooling costs.

There are different types of insulation material that can be used to insulate your attic, including fiberglass batts or blankets, cellulose or recycled paper, expanding spray foam, and rigid foam boards. Each type of insulation has features that can be used in various conditions like the local climate, the shape of the roof, and the part where the insulation will be applied. For example, expanding foam and cellulose are typically used “upside-down” under the roof decking. Fiberglass blankets are typically used to fill the gaps under the attic floorboards, or shredded and loosely strewn on an unfinished attic’s floor.

Good Attic Insulation Benefits Your Roof

In addition to the comfort and energy savings, good attic insulation can help extend your roof’s life span by protecting its framing from damage caused by extreme temperatures and moisture. It can also help prevent ice dams from forming on your roof. Ice dams occur when heat from the attic melts the snow on the roof, which refreezes as it reaches the roof edge and creates a dam-like blockade that prevents water from draining properly. This can lead to moisture infiltration at the roof edge that causes long-term damage.

How to Ensure Good Attic Insulation

Here are some things you can do to make sure that you are getting good insulating material for your attic.

• Get a good roofing contractor. When searching online for a “roofing contractor near me,” make sure that they have experience building complete roofing systems and not just performing repairs. During interviews, talk to them about the types of insulation that they use when they build roofs.

• Check the R-value of your insulation. The R-value measures the insulating material’s resistance to heat conduction. The higher the R-value, the better the material can insulate your attic.

• Make sure the insulation has no gaps. Gaps in the insulating barrier create air leaks. New insulation undergoes quality checks to ensure a gap-free barrier. If your old insulation has gaps, they can be filled by caulk or spray foam.

• Make sure that your attic has adequate ventilation. Good airflow in the attic will help maintain ideal humidity levels in the attic, as well as prevent condensation and mold growth.

If you’re concerned about the condition of your attic insulation, contact our new construction builders at Blackstone Exteriors in Winterset, IA. We can inspect your attic, make sure that it is properly insulated. and install new insulation if needed. Call us at (515) 720-2158 today or send a message to schedule a consultation!