Home attic insulation is one of the easiest types of insulation to improve. It is also one of the most important upgrades you can make to your home in terms of increasing energy efficiency, because much of the heat loss and gain in your home occurs through the attic and roof.

If you can improve or install more home attic insulation, your house will be warmer in the winter and cooler during the summer. However, the first step to improving insulation in the attic–and improving home insulation in general–is to properly seal the area that is going to be insulated.

Improving Insulation in Attic: Vapor Barrier

A vapor barrier prevents water from condensing in your insulation or elsewhere in the attic. If you are insulating an uninsulated attic, the vapor barrier should be placed on the side of insulation that is closest to the home’s living space.

Many types of insulation come with a vapor barrier already installed. The barrier can also be purchased in rolls and installed prior to insulating the attic. If you’re adding additional insulation to an attic, you don’t need a vapor barrier; adding an extra vapor barrier can actually cause more problems with moisture build-up than it prevents.

Types of Home Attic Insulation

Once the vapor barrier is installed, you can begin adding the home attic insulation. Look for two main types of insulation for attic spaces:

• Batts, often made of fiberglass
• Loose-fill insulation.

If you are using batt insulation, measure the spaces you will be insulating, usually the areas between joists and rafters in the attic. Cut the batts to the correct dimensions and lay them between the joists.

Even if your attic already has insulation, it is easy to add an extra layer of fiberglass insulation yourself. However, if you do this, be sure to lay the insulation perpendicular to the joists, so that it doesn’t crush the bottom layer of insulation.

Loose-fill insulation, which is made from cellulose, fiberglass or other material, is usually inexpensive to install and provides better insulating capabilities than batt insulation. Typically, you will want to hire a contractor to install this type of insulation because a professional will be able to blow in the correct amount of insulation for your home.

Home Attic Insulation Tips

If your home was built before 1950, it may contain vermiculite insulation, which could contain small amounts of asbestos. If you think you have this type of insulation in your home, don’t try to remove it yourself. Instead, contact a licensed contractor.

Before you begin installing insulation in your attic, it’s also important to check the roof carefully for leaks. Wet insulation can cause additional problems in your home. As you install insulation, be sure not to block vents, and leave space around heat-producing elements, such as chimneys.