When it comes to insulating your home, there’s a good reason why most manufacturers of high quality insulation recommend that you focus on your attic first. While areas such as ceilings, floors and walls are also important, they pale in comparison to the amount of insulation recommended and by experts and even required by building codes in colder areas.
Attic insulation is required because your roof and attic are at the highest risk of being subjected to strong winds. Even the best roofing systems are simply made from common roofing material and a wooden underlayment that provides very little protection in the face of freezing winds.
Additionally, living in cold areas with high enough precipitation can lead to ice dams forming on your roof. Along with factors such as freezing snow settling on your roof’s slope and occasional water seeping through damaged flashing, you can have yourself a serious problem when it comes to heat loss in the attic.
To counter these problems, certified roofing Livonia MI experts recommend attic insulation ranging between R38 and R60 in most mild to cold areas of the country. Wherever winter temperatures drop below freezing, a minimum thickness of attic insulation ranging between R50 and R60 might be recommended.
Blown in insulation is even a better choice than most other products, due to its excellent sealing qualities and ability to prevent heat from exiting through small crevices in your attic walls.