Things You Should Know Before Insulating Your Attic: Key Considerations and Tips

And, that’s not all. Temperatures can drop to less than 10 degrees between November and January.

All in all, this leads us to one conclusion — it can get really cold in New Orleans. If you want to weather out the storms or rainy months, your property needs to be insulated.

Sure, you can insulate your walls and double up on your propane stores. However, without properly insulating your home, the costs of your gas and electric bills can add up quickly.

In an ideal world, you’d insulate as much of your home as possible. If you can’t do this, you can get nearly the same insulating benefits by focusing your material on the attic.

Insulate the attic, and not only do you stay warm but you also save up on gas and electricity bills. Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of attic insulation installation!

Average Attic Insulation Installation Costs in New Orleans, Louisiana

Depending on where you live, an attic insulation calculator will yield different estimates. In Louisiana, you’re looking at about $1,700 to $2,100.

These are only estimated costs. The actual costs can vary. These can depend on the following:

● The need for old attic insulation removal
● The need for attic stair insulation
● The cost of your materials (e.g., spray foam attic insulation will differ in cost from loose-fill or batts)
● Your contractor’s fee for attic insulation services

These are just some of the things to consider. However, more often than not, these will determine most of the costs you’ll have to prepare for.

Fixing Leaks

Insulation is all about ensuring that there are no leaks — and we mean both water and air leaks. It matters very little what material you choose for your insulation. If your attic has leaks anywhere, it will only be a matter of time before the wall or roof starts giving in.

Fixing leaks is a fundamental preparatory step for attic insulation. To seal leaks, you may have to conduct inspections in several parts of your attic. The best place to start would be your roof.

Other areas you may want to check and seal can include:

● The areas around windows
● Around pipes, wires, exhaust fans, and air ducts
● The walls
● Near chimneys and flues

Except for the last item on the list, you can easily seal leaks with spray foam attic insulation. As for the areas near chimneys and flues, you will need sealing material that can withstand high temperatures. Some silicone sealant or high-temperature caulk may just be what you need for these areas.

Choosing From the Different Types of Attic Insulation Material

Depending on what kind of attic you have, you need to choose the right kind of material. Selecting the wrong material can either make your insulation installation difficult or futile.

There are different types of insulation materials to choose from.

Here are your choices:

Batts

Think of batts as resembling rolled packs that are flexible. Batts are like small mattresses used to insulate walls — like the ones you have in your attic. You can select the contents of batts, and they come in different widths.

Some of the materials used for batts are:

● Fiberglass
● Cellulose attic insulation
● Mineral wool
● Cotton

As you might have imagined, fiberglass is the most costly. Cotton is a cost-effective option, and so is mineral wool.

Batts can be pretty bulky. So, it’s a great insulation material if you’ve got a lot of room to work with. Also, consider lining your walls with batts if there are no obstructions like beams or odd corners.

Loose-Fill

Loose-fill insulation is excellent if your attic walls aren’t regularly shaped or have several odd corners. This type of insulation material resembles bean bags with fibers sealed in.

Loose-fill attic insulation is smaller than batts insulation. For this reason, loose-fill insulation is ideal for topping up existing insulation material. If all you need is to fill some gaps in your existing insulation material, look no further than loose-fill material.

Loose-fill insulation fibers come in:

● Fiberglass
● Mineral wool
● Cellulose

Safety First!

It may seem like a simple patch-up job, but replacing or installing insulation materials do come with their fair share of health risks.

Unless you’re hiring contractors, follow these simple DIY tips for safe attic insulation installation:

Wear a Mask

This is especially important if you are removing insulation material. It becomes even more crucial if you are unfamiliar with the insulation material you’re removing.

Asbestos attic insulation is quite common. Inhaling asbestos can cause lung problems. So, wear a mask if you’re not sure of the material you’re taking out.

Protect Your Eyes and Hands

Other than a mask, have a pair of goggles on you while you work. Regardless of the material you’re installing or removing, getting any amount in your eyes can land you a trip to the emergency room.

Wear gloves as you work, too. After all, there’s no telling what can injure your hands as you remove materials and fix leaks.

Mind Your Footing

Installing attic roof insulation can be dangerous if you’re standing on an unstable surface. If your attic floor is strong enough (and, it probably is), you can use a sturdy step ladder when installing insulation material.

No Time To Install Your Attic Insulation? No Problem!

DIYing your attic’s insulation is possible with the right materials, some elbow grease, and time. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who will tell you that it’s a piece of cake.

If you don’t have the time or patience to install your attic’s insulation, have no fear. We at Star Spray Foam have a variety of insulation materials and services that are just a call away.

We take the guesswork out of attic insulation. For your insulation needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Star Spray Foam!

More From Star Spray Foam

Here are 4 Signs to Know if Spray Foam is Bad
How Is Floor Insulation Installed?
15 Benefits and Importance of Insulating an Attic

Star Spray Foam insulation is proud to provide affordable, efficient insulation services to the community of New Orleans. We have built a reputation in the NOLA area for efficient, high-quality insulation at an affordable cost.

We use quality materials to maximize the amount of heat retained inside your home – and we install them for you hassle-free. Contact us now!

Here are some facts about the weather in New Orleans, LA:

First, the months of June, July, and August can bring forth a lot of rain in this part of the state. Second, June to November are hurricane months.