Insulation piled into the eaves blocks the soffit vents and the attic stops breathing. What a baffle does, where one goes, and the 2 inch vent space.
Attic Baffles and Soffit Vents: Do Not Insulate Over Them Read Post »
Blown-in or batts? Decide by attic geometry, by the coverage chart the FTC requires on every bag, and by which one you can install without gaps.
Blown-In vs Batt Insulation for an Attic You Do Yourself Read Post »
Usually yes, if the old layer is dry, uncompressed and not vermiculite. Here is the attic inspection that decides it, and the unfaced rule.
Add Insulation Over Existing Insulation? Check First Read Post »
You are in the attic with a foam gun. Here is the DOE gap-size table, the places worth sealing, and where fire-rated material is the only option.
Seal Attic Top Plates and Penetrations: What to Aim At Read Post »
Most of the air leaving your house does not go through the windows. Here is the leak map, top to bottom, and which parts are yours to seal.
How to Air Seal Your House: Where the Leaks Actually Are Read Post »
Whether a can light can be covered depends on its rating. How to read IC, ICAT and non-IC, the 3 inch clearance, and what a fire-rated box must do.
Air Sealing Recessed Lights in the Attic: IC vs Non-IC Read Post »
ENERGY STAR’s attic table, based on the 2021 IECC, runs R30 to R60 by climate zone. Here is how to find your zone, measure what you have, and do the math.
How Much Attic Insulation Do You Need? The Climate-Zone Answer Read Post »
An uninsulated attic hatch is a bare patch and an air leak. Here is the dam, the foam, the weatherstrip and the latch, by access type.
Attic Hatch Insulation: Seal the Biggest Hole Up There Read Post »
Insulation does not stop air. Seal first, then insulate, and here is the checklist that tells you sealing is actually finished before you buy a bag.
Air Seal Before You Insulate: Why the Order Is Not Optional Read Post »
