How to Increase Roof Insulation

Because heat rises, an insufficiently insulated roof allows warm air to escape, which can drive up heating costs. Installing insulation helps to lower energy costs, but the lack of adequate insulation material and gaps around pipes and fixtures let warm air seep outside and cold air enter a home. Increasing roof insulation can make residents of the home more comfortable because it no longer has drafts and maintains a stable room temperature.

Work gloves
Eye protection
Dust mask
Insulation with paper backing
Utility knife
Stapler
Staples
Caulking
Caulk gun
Low-expansion foam

Instructions

- 1
  Put on work gloves, eye protection and a dust mask. Place insulation with paper backing across the existing insulation on the interior side of the roof. A total of 6- to 10-inch deep insulation -- including the new and old insulation -- should be adequate. Use a utility knife to cut the insulation to the proper size. Affix the insulation's paper backing to the roofing joists with a stapler.
- 2
  Look for gaps in the roof insulation. Voids allow warm air to seep outside and cold air to seep inside. Use the insulation to fill all the gaps you find.
- 3
  Apply caulking around all roof and attic plumbing fixtures, ducts, ceiling fixtures and electrical outlets. Also place caulk between wall and ceiling joints. Caulk helps to prevent air leaks.
- 4
  Spray low-expansion foam into all cracks and holes in the attic and parts of the interior side of the roof not covered with insulation or caulk. The foam will fill those spaces.

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