Insulation in the attic could give you many benefits, like energy saving, sound-proofing, and moisture prevention. If you’re looking for a cost-effective approach to insulate your attic, blow-in insulation might be the way to go.
Blow-in insulation is ideal for attics with uneven joist spacing, low structures or low ceilings. The question is, how to blow insulation in the attic? Here are the 4 essential steps on how to blow insulation in the attic.
How to Blow in Insulation in Attic
- Use safety outfit and gear
It is mandatory to use goggles, respirator masks, clothes that cover your entire body, rubber anti-slip shoes and gloves. Gear you need to prepare before blow insulation are plywood to stand on, lantern to light up the attic, and headlamp. Most importantly, don’t forget your blow-in insulation machine. If you feel the machine is too expensive, you can just simply rent it. It comes along with the hoes.
- Prepare the attic
You must first set your attic before blowing the insulation. Any water lines should be wrapped. Make sure there are no holes or air gaps.If there is, then you must seal it first. If the gap is quite big, you will need some caulk, but if it’s just a small hole, you can just use spray foam.
Create a border around the furnace vent. Make sure all your recessed lights are bordered with a box with 3 inch clearance.
- Ready to insulate
Make a barrier to keep the insulation from spreading. To help guide the overall thickness of the insulation, place pieces of wood in a few areas around the attic (around 12-15 inches). Try to remember the position of your lighting and other utilities. You can draw it for future adjustment.
- Blow-in Insulation Installation
For this step, you will need help from another person to speed up the process. This will be a very tiring process if you are a one man show. Ready the machine, and start blowing the insulation to the farthest area from the door.
How to Blow Cellulose Insulation in Attic
Generally, the steps on how to blow cellulose insulation in the attic are pretty similar. The only difference is the fill bags you use are cellulose. This is also related to the cost you will spend for the insulation process. Usually, cellulose fill is cheaper than the loose-fill fiberglass.
One bag of cellulose fill only cost around $11. You also need to know the R-value or the heat flow resistance of the insulation. The higher the R-value, the more amount of fill you’ll need. The average blow-in insulation cost in total is $1,401, though prices may vary.
Those are the things you should know on how to blow insulation in the attic. When you choose a reputable blown-in insulation contractor, you should expect them to provide you with a warranty. However, if you decide to perform it yourself, you must be prepared to maintain the insulation in the event that something goes wrong.
