Insulation Tools & Tips
Basic Home Insulation Tools
|
Basic Tools
- Tape measure
- Utility knife
- Straight-edge
- Stapler
- Hammer
|
Protective Gear
- Work Gloves
- Long-sleeve shirt
- Safety glasses
- Dust respirator
|
Special Equipment
- Work light
- Boards for temporary flooring
- Insulation supports
- Pole or rake
|
Installation Tips
Uninsulated Attic
- Install ventilation baffles wherever there is an eave vent to assure proper air ventilation.
- Use faced insulation.
- The facing or vapor retarder should face toward the living area of the house (in cold-weather climates).
- Some Gulf Coast States including Florida may not require an interior vapor retarder. Check local building codes.
Adding Insulation To An Attic
- Install a temporary light.
- Lay temporary flooring across joists to provide footing.
- Lay the insulation blanket at the outer edge of the attic space and work toward the center.
- Keep insulation three inches away from recessed lighting fixtures unless the fixture is marked "Insulated Ceiling," which is designed for direct contact with the insulation.
- Stuff spaces around masonry chimneys, or areas that have small openings, with small pieces of unfaced insulation.
Cathedral Ceiling Insulation
- Before insulating, install ventilation baffles to assure proper airflow.
- Push insulation between rafters, with the facing down, toward the inside of the home.
- Maintain one-inch air space between insulation and roof deck.
- Staple facing to the rafter.
- If using unfaced insulation, cover with polyethylene vapor retarder.
Exterior Walls Insulation
- For standard wall heights, use pre-cut batts rather than continuous rolls.
- Facing should be placed toward the inside of the home.
- Use scraps and small pieces to fill cracks around windows and doors.
- If using unfaced insulation, cover with polyethylene vapor retarder.
Basement Wall Insulation
- Either faced or unfaced exterior wall insulation can be used in basement walls, with R-values ranging from R-11 to R-21.
- In cold-weather climates, place faced insulation between the studs with the vapor retarder facing the interior of the room.
- Use unfaced cut-to-fit pieces of insulation and place them snugly into the space.
Insulation On Walls Of A Heated Crawlspace
- Small insulation pieces to fit snugly into band joist.
- Insulation should cascade down the wall and reach two inches out from the wall on the ground.
- Use furring strips to hold insulation in place.
- Place four to six polyethylene vapor retarder on top of the ground and under the insulation.
- Install ventilation baffles wherever there is an eave to assure proper air ventilation.