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To increase living space, more and more people are taking advantage of their home's large attics.
An attic can be a great place to remodel in order to create an extra bedroom, game room, den or
home office. PINK fiber glass insulation from Owens Corning can help keep a finished attic
comfortable year 'round. Be sure to click the "R-Value Recommendations" button below for the
U.S. Department of Energy recommended R-Values for your area.
Owens Corning has developed special insulation products for use in cathedral ceilings, like the
ceiling of most attics. These special "high density" products (R-38C and R-30C) are designed to
provide consistent R-Value performance and assure
proper ventilation between the insulation and roof deck.
| Recommended Insulation Products: |
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Rafters and Collar Beams
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R-21 |
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Fiber Glass Insulation |
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5 1/2" Thick |
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R-19 |
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Fiber Glass Insulation |
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6 1/4" Thick |
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R-38C |
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2 x 12 Cathedral Ceiling Fiber Glass Insulation |
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10 1/4" Thick |
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R-30C |
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2 x 10 Cathedral Ceiling Fiber Glass Insulation |
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8 1/4" Thick |
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End and Knee Walls
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R-21 |
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Exterior 2 x 6 Wall Fiber Glass Insulation |
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5 1/2" Thick |
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R-19 |
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Floor & 2 x 6 Wall Fiber Glass Insulation |
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6 1/4" Thick |
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R-15 |
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Exterior 2 x 4 Wall Fiber Glass Insulation |
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3 1/2" Thick |
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R-13 |
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Exterior 2 x 4 Wall Fiber Glass Insulation |
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3 1/2" Thick |
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Installation:
Note: If you're starting with a completely uninsulated attic, see installation instructions for Uninsulated Attics before proceeding here.
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1. Use separate pieces of fiber glass insulation for rafters and collar beams. Trying to fit a continuous
length of insulation where collar beams and rafters meet may result in hard-to-fill gaps. If space permits,
use either R-38C and R-30C cathedral ceiling batt insulation. Staple facing flange to the face of the rafter or joist.
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2. When selecting and installing insulation for the rafter portion, one inch of ventilation space should be
provided between the insulation and the roof sheathing (for example, if insulating 2x10 joists, use 8-1/4"
R-30C Cathedral Ceiling fiber glass insulation, which will automatically provide the required space
when properly installed). If needed, install eave vents and baffles such as Owens Corning
Raft-R-Mate® attic rafter vents along the entire
ceiling cavity to assure air flow. For additional ventilation, install ridge and soffit vents.
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3. If a flat ceiling is to be installed, place fiber glass insulation between joists by stapling facing flanges to
framing. Place the vapor retarder toward the warm-in-winter side (living area) of the house in
heating climates. In Gulf Coast and Florida, local building practices may not call for an interior vapor retarder.
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4. Install faced-with vapor retarder-fiber glass blanket insulation in end and knee walls. Staple the faced
insulation so it will remain in place. For extra thermal protection and to help hold the insulation in place,
you may want to install an insulating sheathing on the outside of
the knee walls, if accessible.
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5. Use leftover pieces of insulation to fill in small spaces around window framing, behind electrical outlets,
etc. (If using faced insulation, peel off the facing material before filling in small areas.)
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6. As soon as the insulation has been installed, finish the walls and ceiling with an approved interior finish,
such as gypsum wallboard.
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Note: Do not leave faced insulation exposed. The facings on kraft paper- and foil-faced insulation will burn and
must be installed in substantial contact with an approved interior finish as soon as the insulation has been installed
to help prevent the spread of fire in the wall, ceiling or floor cavities.
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