I'm struggling with my house's AC, which just can't seem to cool things down in the summer, even when it runs nonstop. Recently, I checked my attic insulation and found that the blown-in cellulose is only about 7 inches thick, which I believe translates to a low R-value in the 20s. I'm considering adding more insulation but don't have a truck, and my helper situation isn't great. I was thinking about laying rolls of insulation over the existing material as a more manageable option for me. What are the pros and cons of this approach? I know blown-in is usually cheaper, but I worry about handling the equipment by myself. If I do add insulation, going from R23 to over R40 would be my goal. Any thoughts? Thanks!
5 Answers
I was in your shoes before with a hot attic and my AC struggling. Upgrading from below R20 to R48 made a huge difference! Honestly, you might want to just hire pros for this job. They’ll be quick and ensure it’s done right, just keep an eye on them and have them take pictures for proof of the work.
You can lay batts on top, but make sure they're unfaced. Honestly, it’s more work to install them right compared to blown insulation. The blower machine’s not too heavy—just plastic—but you'll need someone to help lift and insert the bags. If you can, I'd say blown-in is definitely the way to go; I did my attic quickly with my wife feeding bags into the machine and it was super efficient!
Right, plus blown-in really fills all the gaps well compared to batts!
I went for rolls because I wanted to avoid the hassle of renting a blower or struggling with all that cellulose later on if I had to get in the attic again. It didn’t take long—just a couple of hours. But I'd recommend against doing it in the summer; it's just too hot up there. Renting a Home Depot truck for a few hours could work; I used a utility trailer myself.
Yeah, I did it in winter too, much cooler! Definitely easier.
If you’re worried about lifting the machine, consider how much crawling you'll have to do to lay rolls neatly. If you can buy enough bags from Home Depot, they often throw in free blower rental. You could rent the truck and maybe find a local helper; it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours total.
Smart idea! A local helper can make a big difference!
I read that air sealing is actually the most critical step in this process. You might want to tackle that first before adding more insulation. It can be a bit pricey, though.
Yeah, it helps a ton, but you have to budget for it.
Great tip about monitoring the work! I’d do that too.