Old House Attic Insulation Types

Signs of asbestos contamination.

Old house attic insulation types.

As we mentioned previously vermiculite can often come with some asbestos mixed into it. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. The insulation materials used in older houses are not as effective in keeping heat in as the new ones. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

The answer to making an old house inhabitable is insulation. The insulation must meet doe standards. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. Loose fill insulation consists of natural or man made fibers that are blown into the ceiling cavity.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. One of the biggest problems with old attic insulation types is that some of them are contaminated with asbestos. In most cases the best type of attic insulation will be blown fiberglass or blown cellulose insulation. And as we all know asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore.

There are five main types of insulation that you may encounter. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. The levels of attic insulation recommended today by energy star are substantially higher than those used earlier so it s worth checking out what s recommended in your geographic area. Batt or blanket insulation is made from glass or cotton fiber and comes in roll form usually in widths of 16 or 24.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. Even if you bought the house with insulation already installed into it it s best to double check.