Q: I desperately need your help. I believe my home is inadequately insulated. The home is hot in summer and cold in winter.
I have heard some very frightening stories on TV of how easily one can be swindled or misled when it comes to insulating an attic. Can you recommend someone in the Chicago area to do the work?
A: Sorry, I cannot recommend contractors with whom I have not had personal experience. However, I can recommend that you have a qualified inspector check your attic before and after it's been insulated.
The home inspector will give you a written report on the type and recommend the amount of the attic's insulation. Some may even venture to give you an estimated R-value. The R is the resistance to thermal transfer, and in your area, you need an R-38 rating.
A rule of thumb for rating the most commonly used insulations are: 1) loose-fill fiberglass has an R-rating of R-2.2 per inch of insulation; and 2) loose-fill cellulose has an R-rating of R-5 per inch. Fiberglass batts are rated per inch at about an R-2 per inch. The R-rating will be printed on the paper or foil covering of the batt insulation.
(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at PO Box 268, Evansville, IN 47702 or send him e-mail at d.barnett@insightbb.com.)
Resources insulation - Owens Corning
Website:
www.owenscorning.comAmerican Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
To locate an American Society of Home Inspectors inspector near you, call or visit the website of ASHI.
American Society of Home Inspectors
Website:
www.ashi.org
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