How to install insulation in attic rafters

To install the rafter vents, staple them directly to the roof decking. Rafter vents should be placed in your attic ceiling in between the rafters at the point where your attic ceiling meets your attic floor. Once they are in place, you can then place the batts or blankets, or blow insulation, right out to the very edge of the attic floor.

Note: Blown insulation may require an additional block to prevent insulation from being blown into the soffit. Here is how to insulate an unfinished attic. Place planks 1 by 6 or 1 by 8 or plywood sheaths across floor joists to improve your mobility in the attic.

NEVER step between joists, as you may break through the ceiling below. Make sure there are no uncovered electrical boxes or exposed wirings. Caulk up any spaces where air can pass between the attic and the rooms below, paying particular attention to areas surrounding light fixtures, electrical wires, pipes, and ducts. For more on sealing up these areas, see our section on Insulation and Saving Energy.

Apply weatherstripping around the attic entryway. Check to ensure you have proper venting to eliminate moisture retention. Figure out how much insulation to buy by following the directions outlined in How to Calculate Your Insulation Needs. If you have preexisting insulation, you may purchase a different type and layer it over your older material. Batts-and-blankets insulation often comes with a vapor-retardant facing, and some varieties of rigid foam insulation need no extra barrier protection.

For other types, it is a good idea to install a thin barrier of polyethylene on the underside of the insulation to prevent moisture from compromising your material. Always use unfaced insulation near flues and chimneys, as well as in instances where you are merely adding new insulation on top of old.

If using insulation with a vapor-retardant facing, install the material with the vapor-retardant side down. Begin at a wall and work toward the center of the attic floor or the entryway, carefully placing insulation between joists and ensuring a snug fit. Be careful not to compress the material when pressing it in place.

Allow insulation to overlap the top plate of the exterior wall, and for additional protection, install insulation across the tops of joists, as well. However, doing so will prevent cold air from seeping into the porch and may allow you to use the porch for a few weeks longer before winter arrives. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation , moisture can get trapped inside those layers.

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