Good insulation in the ceiling is essential to comfort and reduced utility bills whether you’re a home or business owner in Austin. That said, the type of insulation you choose often depends on whether the ceiling is flat (as on many industrial buildings) or sloped, which is the case with the majority of residential homes. Of course you have to take your budget into consideration, however our insulation experts have a few suggestions regarding the best type to use in either situation.
Flat ceilings
Flat ceilings found in many businesses have no attic space, so before installing insulation it’s important to air seal any penetrations in the ceiling. In a flat ceiling structure blown-in cellulose or fiberglass works well. You’ll need to have about 12 to 16 inches blown in, but make sure to leave a minimum of six inches between the roof sheathing and insulation for proper ventilation.
Sloped ceilings
Sloped ceilings may be ventilated or unvented. Many homes have cathedral or sloped ceilings in the living area or great room; because this type of ceiling is at an angle, there is no room for attic space. However, you can still insulate these areas.
If your sloped ceiling is ventilated you can have Austin insulation professionals install eight or 10 inches of fiberglass batts over rigid foam insulation, which will increase the R-value. Alternatively you may want to consider increasing the depth of the rafter bays with additional framing which will make it possible to install about a foot of fiberglass batts. This will result in an R-value well over R-30.
What if your sloped ceiling is unvented?
You have a few choices with an unvented slope ceiling, including:
- The underside of the roof sheathing can be insulated using about four inches of spray foam, while fiberglass batts fill the remaining rafter cavity.
- Alternatively you can leave the rafter cavity open and have about seven inches of spray foam installed on the underside of the roof sheathing.
- Last, fiberglass batts may be installed between the rafters while rigid roam is installed above the roof sheathing.
With so many options it’s difficult to know which method and type of insulation is best for your home or business. Whether you have a flat or sloped ceiling, our Austin spray foam insulation experts can help determine which is best for your situation depending on the building’s structure, budget and other factors. Give HabiShield a call today!