A properly Florida attic is the key to comfort and energy efficiency in a house. Insufficient insulation allows warm air to escape from the home through the roof and cool outside air to penetrate into the living space, causing heating and cooling systems to work harder. Regular maintenance, inspection and cleaning can help maintain good insulating levels. In addition, ensuring adequate ventilation can reduce humidity, which contributes to moisture problems in the house. Keeping nearby trees and branches trimmed can also prevent damage to the attic and eliminate overhanging branches that block attic vents.

The most common approach to insulating an attic is to use batt or blanket type insulation, blown in where possible. For a dormer attic, a layer of dense-pack blown-in insulation may be installed over the ceiling joists, with a second level of rigid board insulation (see Part 5.2, Control of air and vapour flows). Using this method avoids blocking the vents that open into the eaves, but it does not insulate the edges where the wall plates meet the roof, which can result in a cold spot below the ceiling in the living spaces below.

Reducing Tenant Turnover With Comfort Upgrades Like Insulation

If the attic is easily accessible, a continuous polyethylene air and vapour barrier can be applied between the attic joists. This may require the removal of some existing insulation, so a thorough attic inspection is recommended before proceeding. At the eaves, a piece of extruded polystyrene insulation cut to size and attached to the sheathing can prevent the insulation from disappearing onto the vented soffit areas.

Joe Blow’s Insulation
29712 US Hwy 19 N Unit 409 Clearwater, FL 33761
727-454-0172
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