We all know the feeling. The creaking floors. The chill down your spine. The creepy sensation that something in your home is out of your control. … No, we’re not talking about ghosts in the attic. We’re talking about the cold draft blowing down from up there.
But here’s something you should know. It’s actually not completely out of your control. You can improve attic insulation with new windows and doors and by adding insulation to seal those drafty areas.
Proper attic insulation and maintenance can help control heating costs, protect your roof, and keep critters out. Here are a few things you can do.
1. Add or update insulation.
Whether your attic has no insulation or is already insulated, adding fiberglass rolls or batts between the attic floor joists will help control drafts. The material should run perpendicular to the joists. Do not completely block the vents, as this can lead to mildew problems.
A contractor can help you complete attic insulation. If you choose to do it on your own, protect yourself from the fibers by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, gloves, goggles, and a dust mask. Cover any areas of your skin that may be exposed.
2. Complement attic insulation with new windows and doors.
Attics typically don’t get a whole lot of TLC, but they should. Old, creaky doors to the main house and outdated windows in the attic can result in numerous issues, including:
- Irritating creaks in the floors and doors shaking due to wind escaping through the cracks (see … no ghosts)
- Drafts seeping in through the windows
- A greater potential for breakage due to high winds
- Decaying window frames and door frames, leading to an unhealthy environment in the attic and your overall home
- Bugs and rodents being able to creep into your attic (see … that’s what you hear walking up there)
Not only can you complement attic insulation with new windows and doors, but you can also beautify the home’s exterior with these updated windows.
3. To prevent ice dams, avoid heating your attic.
If you don’t regularly use your attic, avoid heating it. Not only will this help you save on energy costs, but it will also protect your roof from damage due to ice dams.
Ice dams form as a result of freezing and thawing cycles that naturally occur in the winter.
When you heat the attic, it warms the roof, leading the snow to melt. If that melted snow later refreezes and ice forms at the edge of your roof, it could block melting snow from draining off the roof. This may result in damage to shingles and gutters.
Contact us if you need new windows and doors to improve the insulation of your attic. Send us a message online, or call or visit our windows and doors showroom in Rochester.
As for the ghosts in the attic . . . can’t help you there.