About

The first thing you need to know about insulation is what the R-value means. The R-value of any insulation product measures its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value it has, the greater the insulation’s effectiveness and power.
Pro Tip: R-values can increase when used with other building components such as drywall, plywood sheathing, house wrap, and siding.

The attic is the most important place to install insulation because heat rises; therefore, to make your home more energy-efficient, it’s vital to insulate the floor of the attic. Attic insulation also prevents condensation, bacteria, and mold from forming on your framing members and plywood roof sheathing.

Depending on your geographical location, the US Department of Energy recommends either fiberglass batt insulation or cellulose with R-values between 38 and 49 for attic insulation.

Insulation can be installed in many different areas of your home. House wrap that goes on before the siding can even be considered a type of insulation. When installing new windows and doors, a lot of homeowners are unaware that before the siding goes on, the perimeter of the window or door should be insulated with 6-inch self-adhesive rubber flashing. It drastically stops drafts from entering the structure and prevents interior heating/cooling loss.

Other areas of the home that should be considered for insulation include:

• Knee walls in living and attic spaces
• Dormer ceilings
• Sloped walls and ceilings
• Around foundations and slabs
• Between the foundation and bottom sill plates (exterior walls)
• Vaulted or cathedral ceilings
• Floors located above vented crawl spaces
• Interior basement walls
• Floors over unheated areas such as porches and garages
• Inside box headers for windows and doors
• Floors located above unheated basements
• Interior walls – cracks and crevices around windows and doors before it’s trimmed and finished
• Interior floors, ceilings, and walls where you desire sound-proofing

The answer to this really depends on your home. If you have some residual damage, repairs may be able to take care of the problem. However, you may not be able to tell on your own. Having a siding professional make an inspection is the best way to determine if the damage can be addressed by a repair or if you need to replace the entirety of your siding.

Another thing to consider is the age of your current siding. If your siding is decades old, it may be in your interest to replace it. This can help to increase the energy efficiency of your home, address water damage, and give your home a huge increase in curb appeal.

For maximally energy-efficient windows, take into account whether the glass has a low emissivity coating (Low-E), an energy star rating, double or triple panes, and argon gas or krypton gas between window panes. These will help keep heat in your home in cooler months and reflect solar heat away during warmer periods.