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We all dream about it - having that gorgeous home with grand cathedral ceilings, immaculate hardwood floors and that natural stone fireplace to match. But few of us start with a home that's perfect. In the meantime, it's very likely you'll be painting some rooms or swinging a hammer as you build your dream. Not to worry - if you don't have the time or money for those major renovations, you can still improve your home with small do-it-yourself projects that are quick and inexpensive.
Consider a basic attic insulation upgrade. It's one of the most simple and cost-effective home renovation projects. Not only is it easy to do, it's easy on your wallet. If you want to take on an inexpensive project that can help reduce your home's heating costs and help improve its energy efficiency - this is right renovation for you.
The first step to upgrading your attic insulation is knowing exactly how much insulation you already have installed. Most attics are under-insulated so top-up on your existing insulation by adding enough to total at least 15 inches. When shopping for insulation, look for PINK Fiberglas batts, which can be found at any local home renovation or hardware store. They provide optimal thermal resistance without compromising the quality of your home's indoor environment.
It's also important to allow for proper attic ventilation. To prevent batt insulation from obstructing soffit vents, install ready-to-use raft-R-mate vents between roof rafters. They provide an unrestricted path for fresh air flow through a home's soffits into the attic space, helping to reduce the risk of condensation and ice damming at the eaves.
If you're interested in upgrading your attic insulation, but are hesitant to begin the project on your own, have no fear. Here are two valuable resources that provide further information and instructions for do-it-yourselfers just like you:
Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC)
The CMHC website offers plenty of information on various home renovations, including attics. Visit their 'Assessing the Renovation Project' page that asks questions about your attic and provides important considerations before starting an attic renovation. Also, check out their comprehensive guide on attic-related problems such as water entry, ice dams and condensation. Visit www.cmhc.ca for details.
PINK Saves Energy
This resource provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to install attic insulation and helps you calculate how much insulation you need based on the size of your attic. Visit www.pinksavesenergy.ca for more information.
The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning
2008 Owens Corning
http://www.cmhc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_002.cfm http://www.cmhc.ca/en/co/maho/gemare/gemare_001.cfm
article at HomeRenovationGuide.com