Hey everyone! I'm about to get a new roof on my house, which was built in the 50s, and I'm also dealing with some major insulation problems in my attic. The current insulation is pretty shot, leaving my upstairs too hot, especially with the humidity levels hitting around 65-70% lately. My roofing contractor is working on the estimate, and while I don't have a firm date yet, I'm anticipating the job will get underway in the next few weeks. I'm curious if there's a specific order I should tackle this in. For example, I know the roofer will check the soffit vents to make sure they're good for the new ridge vents. Would it be better to wait on the insulation until after the roof is done, or can I go ahead and insulate now? Thanks for any advice!
4 Answers
Check out this Youtube video I found; it's got some great tips on prepping your attic for insulation while getting the roof done. This guy put in baffles for his soffits, so he could insulate right up to the edge. Hope it helps!
It’s generally best to get the roof done first. When I had my roof replaced, a lot of debris from the shingles ended up in the attic, which made a mess of the old insulation. So, I’d recommend doing the roof first, then swapping out the insulation. Plus, your roofing team should come equipped to vacuum out the old stuff anyway, making life easier! Just my two cents, though—I'm no expert!
Best practice is definitely roof first. Once the roof is on and you’ve checked for leaks (because things can go wrong), then you can properly insulate. Make sure the roofer does a good job with ventilation too—those old homes can be drafty!
I’d say definitely roof first! If you have those 1x6 or 1x8 roof boards, then putting down some tarps could save your new insulation from getting all mixed up with debris. If it's OSB or plywood, you're probably in the clear. Just keep an eye on ventilation—it's super important.