Attic and Roof
Insulation - Insulation - Insulation!!!
Insulation Primer: The Purpose of insulation is to reduce heat loss or heat gain. Some materials work better than others. The R-Value of insulation is given to the various types of insulation to tell how good they are at what they are supposed to do. The higher the R-Value, the better the insulation is at insulating. Insulation is PART of the process for insuring that a home isn't losing or gaining too much heat. Insulation alone cannot account for cracks in the wall, ill-fitted insulation or a drafty attic, and so on.
Remember: Even if you’re going to have someone else do the work, be informed. Watch the videos!
DO IT YOURSELF
The Weekend Project
This video that shows the very basics of laying down fiberglass insulation in your attic. Think hard about where you want the vapor barrier. I heard one guy say, “The vapor barrier goes down in Maine and up in Florida.” I’m guessing – any state below the 34th parallel that isn’t in the mountains ought to put the vapor barrier UP against the heat.
Blown-In Insulation - Attic
If you’re going to blow in insulation into your walls (next section) or someone is coming to do that for you, here’s a primer on how to do that. This is an especially good video because it shows foaming and caulking of leaky places. It also shows how to insulate upright areas, how to insulate an attic door, and what to do around pipes and light fixtures.
Already Have "Some"
This is my problem. I had insulation blown in, but it settles. So, this video shows you how to beef up what’s already there AND add batt and roll insulation on top!! It also shows a way to have “blown-in insulation” without “blowing” it in.
Reflectivity
Alrighty then! Let’s say you REALLY want to fight off the effects of the sun’s heat … it’s possible … IF YOU GET THE RIGHT KIND OF PAINT … to paint over asphalt shingles and give them a reflective coating. Who knew?
THE WHOLE POINT!!!
This video shows the whole reason for painting the roof. The guy shows the temperature at the beginning and the end. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! He also uses a roller, instead of a sprayer. His whole goal is to have a cooler house.
Contractors - KEY WORDS
Key Words: Attic Insulation
insulation ……… blown-in …………batt & roll ………… foam insulation ………. R Value
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KEY WORDS - Roof Painting
First, let me say this … most roofers in the U.S. will say you “can’t” paint your roof. Yes. Yes you can, and plenty of people around the world do it. It costs less than roof replacement.
Key Words: roof painting ….. roof restoration …… reconditioning…. know the kind of roof you’ve got: Metal, Tin, Galvanized, Asphalt shingles, Terra Cotta, Old Concrete Tile, etc.
Reroofing
Reroofing is putting another layer on top of the one you have. It can be done if you ONLY HAVE ONE LAYER OF SHINGLES. That said, IF you only had one layer of asphalt shingles, you could put a lighter gray over the color you already have. Sold in stores, it is referred to as being more efficient. Pictured – “Cool Roof Tiles”.
A New Roof
If you’re ready to pay the big bucks, more power to you. Literally. Certain roof tiles actually have an Energy Star rating! Those will be the top tier tiles to get. Make sure they lay an approved “radiant barrier” down before they start putting on the new tiles… not regular roofing paper. The radiant barrier will be beefier. Here are other key words to listen and look for:
cool roofing …..saves on energy bills …. solar reflectance …. radiant barrier