I'm looking at my currently unused attic in a wood frame 60 year-old home as a great space for additional storage closets for clothes and other items. The attic is currently poorly insulated with old fiberglass bats that are paper backed and look like they were installed in the 1950's. There are a few floorboards down the center but the rest of the floor is exposed joists and insulation. There is no insulation at all below the roof or on the walls. New roof with ridge-vent was recently installed and soffit ventilation is good. I live in Massachusetts so cold winters and a few hot summer days.
My idea is to floor over most of the attic with plywood and possibly carpet in the traffic areas, build a "box" with studs and wallboard within the space large enough to create my closets/storage area and leave the attic around the box unfinished. In the process I'd like to improve the energy efficiency of my attic to cut my heating costs.
My question is about insulation. Should I leave the old fiberglass bats in the floor undisturbed and just lay my floor over them? Should I invest in Prodex or similar foil faced polyethylene foam to apply under the roof joists and on the uninsulated exterior walls?
Any thoughts?:huh:
My idea is to floor over most of the attic with plywood and possibly carpet in the traffic areas, build a "box" with studs and wallboard within the space large enough to create my closets/storage area and leave the attic around the box unfinished. In the process I'd like to improve the energy efficiency of my attic to cut my heating costs.
My question is about insulation. Should I leave the old fiberglass bats in the floor undisturbed and just lay my floor over them? Should I invest in Prodex or similar foil faced polyethylene foam to apply under the roof joists and on the uninsulated exterior walls?
Any thoughts?:huh:
