California Attic Insulation

Insulating your attic can be done most effictively using spray foam insulation. SPF can be used in two ways to insulate your attic and protect your home from weather and moisture related damages.

The way to insulate your attic usually depends upon the building structure and science. For the traditional vented attic, insulation is used in the floor to insulate the ceiling in both seasons of heat and cold. The insulation is used where traditional fiberglass is used, between the floor joists. The rest of the attic is insulated through different vents in the roofing structure. It is the most common type of attic in the US, but that does not mean it is necessarily the most effective.

The next application is when spray foam professionals spray foam directly underneath the roof and other areas to essentially seal off and insulate the entire attic space from any air infiltration. The foam insulation when applied underneath the roof will insulate the attic space from extreme heat that was once radiated on the outside of the roof. The attic space becomes just like any other space in the house now, just as comfortable. Most builders will say that this is not a good idea because wood needs to breath and the shingles will get very hot and start to come off the roof. However, we have done a great deal of research and furniture manufacturers claim that if wood is permitted to breath over time, this will add to the deterioration. Kiln dry wood, which is used in all furniture, has a little bit of moisture already in it. Once this moisture dry’s out you will see cracks in the wood. Wood must be sealed completely before it is used or it will not last very long. One reason why we continue to paint our house and fences is to keep the seal on the wood so that it will not rot.

If a roof is insulated with spray foam it can cut down energy as well. Air ducts are eliminated so energy loss will not happen that way. The top of the roof is a lot tighter so there will not be much infiltration and exfiltration of moisture. The attic temperature would now be lower which would also reduce energy costs. In a standard insulation, ceiling insulation reduces the transfer of heat from the attic to the living space in the summer. By insulating the roof surface with spray foam, the surface temperature exposed to the attic can be reduced by as much as 40 degrees F.

The benefits of including the attic in the insulated space are:

• Duct leakage and heat loss/gain from ducts is much less of an issue.
  
• Air sealing is easier in the roof than in the ceiling.
  
• Dust and loose insulation are less likely to migrate down to the living space.
  
• Tests show energy costs are lower when the attic is sealed.