Attic Insulation & Air Sealing in Weatherford, TX

Attic insulation and air sealing come first in nearly every Weatherford home we look at. On a summer afternoon, an attic under a dark roof can be far hotter than the outdoors, and that heat radiates down through thin insulation into the rooms below. At the same time, air leaks around can lights, the attic access, plumbing vents and the tops of interior walls pull hot attic air into the house and push cooled air out.

Targets

The Texas residential energy code, based on the 2015 IRC, lists R-38 for ceilings in Zone 3, which includes Parker County. ENERGY STAR recommends R-49 for an existing attic with no insulation, or adding about R-38 over 3 to 4 inches already in place. Many older homes in Weatherford, Mineral Wells and Benbrook fall well short.

Seal first

We seal top plates, wire and pipe holes, the gap around the flue, can lights that are not rated for contact and the attic access. Then we blow cellulose or fiberglass to the target depth and leave depth markers.

Or move the boundary to the roof

When ductwork and the air handler are in the attic, sealing and insulating the roof deck with open-cell foam can be the better long-term choice. The attic then stays close to indoor temperature, which reduces the load on the system. We price both approaches when both are reasonable and explain the trade-offs.