How to Install Attic Blanket Insulation

An attic blanket is an easy way to add more insulation to an attic, therefore preventing heat from escaping your house during the winter. Most of the time adding an attic blanket is only beneficial if you live in a particularly cold climate. However, for those homeowners that do live in such an area, they should consider installing more insulation in their attic themselves.

An attic blanket is simply an additional layer of insulation that runs perpendicular to the joists in your ceiling. By running an extra layer of insulation over the existing one, you can eliminate most gaps between your insulation coverage, as well as up the overall R-value of the attic insulation. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use unfaced insulation for this project; you don’t want to add an additional vapor barrier to your attic.

Installing an attic blanket is easy: just buy the appropriate form of blanket insulation and unroll it and cut to fit to the area. Keep in mind that you should wear appropriate safety equipment: gloves, eye protection, a face mask, and long sleeves are all important when working with insulation. When installing the attic blanket, it may be helpful to use a piece of plywood to stand on. Just place it over at least two joists to prevent you from crushing the insulation between the joists.

Another thing you should consider is if you already have baffles installed to insure proper roof ventilation. If your attic is missing these, you must install them before you install an attic blanket. Ignoring this step can cause moisture to become trapped in the space, causing your roof to rot over time.

The difficulty of installing an attic blanket will increase depending on how many obstacles you have that must be worked around. Anything that produces any type of heat should have a dam built around it out of lumber to prevent the blanket from touching it. This rule of thumb includes recessed lights and metal chimneys.

The only exceptions to this rule are masonry chimneys and recessed lighting marked with an I.C. For masonry chimneys, you can cut the blanket insulation so it is flush with the chimney. Recessed light fixtures that are marked with an I.C. can have the attic blanket insulation installed directly over it.

Installing an attic blanket is an easy job for many homeowners, but many people often hire out this type of work to avoid dealing with itchy fiberglass insulation or to make sure that they don’t inadvertently alter their roof’s ventilation. If this is of concern to you, consider hiring a professional to do the work or take a look after you’re finished.