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Split level with two attic spaces (located in the Philadelphia area)
Attic insulation is newer and fills the joist cavities.
Q: Is it Ok to put boards down on joists and use for off-season storage, or should I load up with a boatload of blown in insulation?
Mo' rambling.
We moved in 6 months ago from a house with more basement storage, and even tho we threw away a 20yd dumpster of stuff, our 2 car garage in new place is loaded with things. I was planning on putting down boards in attic(s) for storage but a friend insists that we should always go with more more more insulation in the attic and come up with other crafty storage options.
Thoughts?
Last edited by bellmark; 12-02-2014 at 01:36 PM..
Reason: grammar for clarity
If you can't answer this question yourself you probably shouldn't be a homeowner.
With dramatic voice:
"In the left corner, place to store junk that won't see the light of day for years! And, in the right corner an energy efficient home that doesn't eat wallets for dessert!
If you can't answer this question yourself you probably shouldn't be a homeowner.
With anything... while more is better, at certain points it becomes unnecessary and costly given the added benefits.
Would 24 inches of concrete be better for my driveway instead of 6 inches?
- Yes, but its really unnecessary and costly given the added benefits
Would covering my Volkswagon with steel armor plating be safer for my children riding inside?
- Yes, but its really unnecessary and costly given the added benefits
Would hiring a team of ninja warriors armed with machettes to walk me to work make it safer for me in the city?
- Yes, but its really unnecessary and costly given the added benefits
Would building my NJ beach home on 300ft high stilts provide better protection from future ocean encroachment on the land?
- Yes, but its really unnecessary and costly given the added benefits
If I have 10 inches of insulation already in my attic joists, have I reached the point that even if I added 2 feet of blown-in insulation, the benefits are negligible? ( I have to go into the attic(s) to confirm depth)
The true question is "how much insulation do I need on my 1970s era home located in philly" then do the sinple math to determine if i am covered
But then it's very simple to google for that magic number
I'll check this all out tonigt.
The conversation about storage came up at work, and value of mo insulation came up at same time... So I posted here before doing any searching on my own
So, basically you should have at a minimum a R-38 rating for the attic. Which is approx. 14" of depth in blown-in insulation. A far cry from the maybe 8" (by your description) you have now.
So, basically you should have at a minimum a R-38 rating for the attic. Which is approx. 14" of depth in blown-in insulation. A far cry from the maybe 8" (by your description) you have now.
Q: Is it Ok to put boards down on joists and use for off-season storage...
OK? Sure. Best approach? probably not.
Quote:
...or should I load up with a boatload of blown in insulation?
To the largest extent practical
which with R values will preclude the space being used that way.
Quote:
Thoughts?
I relocated and enlarged the scuttle out to the uninsulated carport.
Then I put down some OSB sheets.
Then (after a long list of other remodel work) I put up a TYVEK
barrier between the carport and house and brought in a blow in crew.
Filled it to the gills.
I didn't get a chance to relook at the attic spaces last night, but my memory is that there is potentially enough space in the one attic to do both... deeper blown-in insulation and storage up on shelves or elevated platform. Crazy idea?
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