Diy How To Seal An Attic
Even if you think you do a good job there can still be issues with bats finding a way around your work.
Diy how to seal an attic. These issues results in drafts heat loss in the winter. Not sealing attic air leaks first no amount of insulation is going to help if you don t seal your attic properly says olson. The number one prep step. Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots.
Sealing is where most of the work is going to be involved. Not getting insulation out to the edges when you re prepping the attic use a broom handle or stick to push the existing insulation out to the edges. Before you think about heading into your attic to seal air leaks and add insulation here are the things you will need first. When you re done sealing your attic bypasses push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or stick as you back out of the attic.
Gaps in the attic or between the lower floors and the attic will let heated or cooled air escape to the great unconditioned outdoors making any insulation you add essentially useless. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. If you are doing a major home renovation project now may be a great time to tackle this project too. Increasing attic insulation is a fairly complicated diy project 1 3 days or a full weekend but is completely doable if you have the right materials and information.
I m all about diy when it saves me time or money. And when i say seal every nook and cranny you really need to get in there or else this is not going to work seal every gap 3 8in or larger. In addition they are usually constructed from thin wood or drywall neither of which provides any appreciable resistance to energy loss. My cost was under 150 and it took me less than a day.
You must be highly detailed. In the past year i ve been on an energy hog hunt in my house and landed on air sealing my attic before adding blown insulation. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the.