Attic baffles can help to keep your attic cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are often quite easy to install yourself. Let’s take a look at how this is done.
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Why you should install attic baffles: are they necessary?
Attics are often at a temperature of about 90 degrees all year round. This can be great for your heating system as it means you don’t need to run it, but not so good for your wallet as it means more money is being spent on heating. On the other hand, if you live in a cold climate and have an uninsulated attic, the lack of insulation can mean that the heat from your home will escape through them and cause your heating bills to soar.
Attic baffles are an easy way to increase the effectiveness of your insulation. They can also help prevent ice dams and reduce noise in your attic. Attic baffles are added in attics between the rafters to make sure that there is an air channel between the rafts and the insulation.
This keeps air flowing so that the moisture can get out of it. Attic baffles are often made out of foam or plastic. As you can see, there are multiple advantages of installing them. Let’s take a look at how this is done.
It depends on the local code if you need to install attic baffles. Check with your local community to see what is needed. Installing these is quite a lot of work so it can be avoided if you live in a warmer climate.
What to do before installing attic baffles
If you want to install attic baffles, first you need to identify which areas need insulation. This can be done by removing the insulation in your attic and measuring how much you have (in cubic feet) and how much space is left. Once this is done, take measurements of any vents or other openings on your roof that may be letting cold air into your attic.
Next, use an online calculator to find out how many baffles are needed for the different parts of your attic. The number of baffles will depend on the size of your area and the insulation level you want to reach.
It’s also worth noting that if you have a cathedral ceiling in your home, it’s best to install baffles there as well as in the flat section of your attic as heat rises from below.
Finally, decide where you would like to put the baffles before installing them. This can be a bit tricky but not impossible if you plan ahead. The best thing to do is use string and chalk lines to mark out where the boards should go on each side of the opening before attaching them permanently in place with nails or staples (if making them yourself).
What you need for installation
To install attic baffles you will need:
-Staple gun
-Baffles or boards
-Thin plywood
-Screws
-Nails
-A ladder.
– Scissors
–Gloves and protective goggles
-Measuring tape
How to install attic baffles
Once you have the baffles, you can measure how big they have to be and cut them to size. They have to be folded so that you can staple them to the roof and top plate. Add a few inches of baffle for this. You can connect the baffles by sliding them over each other as well. Make sure that you don’t push the foam too hard as it can break. If you are using a ladder, you might consider securing it so that it doesn’t fall over. Don’t lean when you are on a ladder and read the instructions of the ladder before you begin.
Install attic baffles by inserting them into the rafters and attaching them to the sides of the home with nails or staples. Staples are easier to apply but might be less durable and stable. Keep doing this until the attic is completely covered.
Finish any exposed seams by filling them with caulk.
-Install it on the sides:
Keep the flange 2 inch away from the wall. The folded part of the flange that you will nail to the wall should measure about 4 inches. This will make it easy to install.
-Install it on the top
Nail the flange against the top of the rafter. Do it at the same height as the top of the rafter. It should cover it but don’t go over it.
A lot of people put a lot of time and money into isolating their attic but forget to do the same for the hole where their ladder is installed. This can leak a lot of air. There are systems that make it easy to insulate this as well.
To conclude, we can state that installing attic baffles yourself is quite easy to do. It takes some time but given that you can do it with a stapling machine, it is straightforward to do. Measuring and cutting the baffles is the main challenge.
Often you can do this on your own but it is easier if you have someone to help you with it as the baffles can be quite big.
It can also be difficult to install it if your attic has a weird shape or if it is very high. You might want to consult a professional if this is the case. We have mentioned how to install roof vents here.
