Don’t Hesitate, Insulate!

Spring is a good time to start your home insulation project. The temperatures are comfortable for doing work in the attic. If you wait until summer, it gets pretty hot in there!

Good insulation work will help you save money on your energy bills by keeping cool air where it belongs in the summer and keeping warm air from escaping in the winter. But there is another good reason to invest in an insulation project: according to Remodeling magazine, adding attic insulation delivers the most resale value compared to other remodeling projects for homes in our region.

Remodeling’s online 2016 Cost vs. Value report shows that an average attic fiberglass insulation project in the Texas-Oklahoma-Arkansas-Louisiana region costs $1,227 and results in upping the resale value of a home by $1,505, for a recouped cost of 122.6 percent.

Remodeling bases its calculations on an insulation project for a 35-foot x 30-foot attic floor space, which includes air sealing the floor and adding enough fiberglass loose-fill insulation to reach an R-30 insulation value.

Another incentive to get started on your insulation project this year is an available federal tax credit. The program offers a credit of 10 percent of the material cost, up to $500. Insulation products and products that seal air leaks, such as weather stripping, spray foam, caulk, and house wrap can qualify for the credit. The tax credit is effective through December 31, 2016, so this is the year to get it done!

If you need a little guidance, here are some quick tips and considerations for your attic insulation project:

• Install The Recommended Level Of Insulation: the Energy Star website has a handy chart for determining what R-value you need for the best performance. For example, our North Texas region calls for establishing an R-value of R30 to R60 in an uninsulated attic.
• Check The Vapor Barrier: The vapor barrier lies between the insulation and the attic floor. It helps prevent moisture build-up that could reduce the performance of insulation, and may be made of plastic sheeting, tar paper or craft paper, and Styrofoam.
• Inspect And Seal Areas That May Be Leaking Air: The typical culprits include the attic hatch, pipe, and vent openings, ductwork, and chimneys.