5: Boost your attic insulation
By Diane Veto Parham | Illustrations by David Clark
Cost: National averages range from $1,300 to $2,000, depending on home location, attic size and type of insulation.
Benefit: Reduce your energy bills by keeping heated and cooled air in your living space.
DIY potential: Handy homeowners can add insulation with proper tools, safety gear and precautions, but it’s a job best left to professionals.
Most homes have insulation. But maybe not enough.
It’s all about the R-value. That’s the number assigned to insulating materials based on how well they resist the transfer of heat. Higher numbers mean more resistance to heat flow and more effective insulation. For attics, recommended R-values range from 30 in warmer climates to 60 in colder regions. North Carolina is split between two zones, so check Energy Star’s online R-value map (energystar.gov) to find your county’s zone.
Older homes are more likely to lack enough attic insulation for peak efficiency, because energy-efficiency standards keep going up and getting higher, according to Alan Shedd, director of energy solutions for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. “Thirty years ago, R-19 was standard practice.”
What you spend to upgrade your attic insulation will depend on multiple variables, including the type of insulation (fiberglass or cellulose, batts or loose fill, for example), as well as the size of the attic space and the contractor’s labor costs.
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