All About Insulation

  • Batt Insulation

  • Spray Foam

  • Radiant Barrier

Person installing insulation in a wooden ceiling

Batt Insulation

Batt insulation is a type of insulation blanket. These are pre-cut sections of insulation that are usually fiberglass, although cellulose, mineral wool, natural fibers and plastic versions are also available. This type of insulation is typically best used for unfinished walls, floors and ceilings.

Attic space with insulation, exposed wooden beams, and HVAC ductwork.

Spray Foam Insulation

The best way to insulate an attic is to use spray foam. There are two types of spray foam insulation; open cell and closed cell. When properly installed, either type of will act as a perfect air barrier, sealing off all attic bypasses. It will also completely eliminate convection; air cannot move through foam insulation.

The downside to foam insulation is the expense; it costs more money than any other insulation. For a traditional attic, there is no need to use foam in the entire space as you'll get the most value out of the first couple inches.

A cost effective way to use foam insulation is to foam the lid of the house, then use loose fill insulation on top. This means installing foam to a depth of 1.5" on the entire attic floor to seal everything up. Top off with R-49, 18" Fiberglass insulation and have a perfect attic.

Attic roof with exposed wooden beams, insulation, and electrical wires.
A person wearing white socks standing on a dark wooden floor, with a section of insulation and wooden framing visible on the ceiling.
Attic space with insulation, exposed ceiling beams, ductwork, and a black pipe protruding from the snow-covered floor.

Radiant Barrier

Conventional insulation and spray foam insulation simply slow the movement of thermal heat. But, radiant barrier insulation blocks thermal heat. Radiant barrier reflects 97% of thermal heat in your attic.

By keeping the heat from getting into your home, you save up to 25% in energy costs. When the sun heats a roof, it's primarily the sun's radiant energy that makes the roof hot. Much of this heat travels by conduction through the roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The hot roof material then radiates its gained heat energy onto the cooler attic.

A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic including the air ducts and the attic floor.

Insulation and wooden beams in attic space.
A solar-powered roof vent on a shingled rooftop.

Attic Fans

Radiant barrier installation needs to be accompanied by an attic fan installation to get rid of the heat. That heat has to be removed from your attic in order to keep your home cool.

A commercial grade, 30 watt, solar attic exhaust fan is sized to exchange hot attic air, 10-15 times per hour, keeping the attic to within 5°-15°F of the outside ambient air temperature.

Diagram comparing attic ventilation methods, showing the benefits of a WITH ATTIC FAN versus WITHOUT ATTIC FAN, highlighting airflow, temperature, and moisture control.

Proper Attic Ventilation

Balance attic ventilation stem consists of intake at the eaves(?), soffits, or fascias of the roof, l exhaust at or near your roof ge(?), serves two important actions. First, it allows cool, fresh to enter into the attic. Second, it allows hot, moist air to escape. A proactive attic exhaust fan should be installed to be effective. Get a commercial grade solar fan to exchange that hot attic air and improve ventilation.

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