A lot of homeowners underestimate the importance of installing proper insulation in their attics, thinking it isn’t worth the time or money to improve a space that’s usually used only for storage.
The reality is that attic insulation plays an extremely important role in the health of your roof and the energy efficiency of your home. It helps keep your home cool during the summer and warm during the winter, and when paired with an effective ventilation strategy, attic insulation also helps to prevent potentially costly problems like ice dams.
Attic Insulation and Its Role in Home Energy Efficiency
Insulation creates a thermal barrier that inhibits heat transfer. This means that it helps keep hot air out in the summer and prevents the loss of warm air during the winter. Given that heating and cooling accounts for between 50 and 70 percent of the average home’s energy usage, you can significantly lower your costs and improve efficiency by adding proper insulation to your attic.
It’s important to carefully consider the climate in which you live when selecting a product or determining how much insulation to install. Look at a metric known as the “R-value” of a given type of insulation; this value tells you how effective the insulation is at inhibiting heat transfer. The higher a given insulation’s R-value, the better it is at preventing heat gain or loss.
Keep Ice Dams at Bay with Proper Insulation
Ice dams happen when snow that’s collected on the roof is melted by heat coming from the attic, then runs off to lower sections of the roof or into the eaves. There, it freezes again, and the ice thus formed can prevent water from draining properly. The water can then become trapped under the shingles, causing serious damage to your roof that can permanently alter its structural integrity and require expensive repairs.
When paired with proper attic ventilation, insulation is the most effective way to prevent ice dams from forming. It helps keep the temperature of your attic at a controlled level, thus stopping snow from melting too quickly.
The Benefits of Professional Installation
Professional installation of attic insulation removes all guesswork from the product selection and installation processes. Experienced pros know what type of insulation is best for your home and climate, and they can also help with ventilation strategies and other improvements that will ensure your attic supports the health of your roof. Reach out to a dependable professional in your area to get your questions answered or obtain a project-specific custom estimate.
And if you need help with attic ventilation or roof damage repairs, contact All Roofing Solutions, your local roofing contractor with over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing. We’ll can help you ensure your roof is as energy efficient as possible, repair leaks, handle any ventilation issues, or replace your entire roof, gutters, windows or siding – whatever services you may need!
Call 302-725-ROOF (7663) in Delaware or 610-551-ROOF (7663) in Pennsylvania or request your free estimate online!