Attic Insulation Case Studies: Rigid Foam Insulation in Chelsea, MI
Challenge
The homeowner explained that he had just moved into the home and the upstairs of his home was much hotter in the summertime compared to the lower level of his house. The heater would also come right back on after shutting off. The symptoms of the problem were warmer temperatures compared to the main level of the home. In the summer it would be 5-10 degrees warmer than the main floor. The problem was caused by the knee wall on the West facing side of the home lacking a proper thermal barrier, allowing the radiant heat from the roof to transfer into the knee wall and into the conditioned part of the home. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because he has been living in the home for very long and is uncomfortable staying upstairs where his bedroom is. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem is that he can't be comfortable in his bedroom or work upstairs during the day because it gets too uncomfortable hot.
Solution
The homeowner chose our company because we were able to identify the cause for why it was so hot upstairs during the summer months unlike the other companies that suggested he needs insulation on the attic floor of the knee wall which would have done nothing with the radiant heat that was still in the knee wall and radiating towards the walls of the conditioned space adjacent to the knee wall attic space. Our solution was to install 4" SilverGlo R20 Polystyrene Graphite Infused Foam Board with a radiant barrier on either side to the roof rafters and Gable walls inside of the knee wall to make the thermal barrier in the attic space on the roof vs the floor making the knee wall significantly cooler during the summer and warmer during the winter. We then air sealed all of the board joints with one part foam to create an airtight seal. The only challenge that we faced during the installation process was the height inside of the knee was made it a little difficult to move around with the foam board and still have enough headspace to get around. We used, 4" SilverGlo Polystyrene Graphite Infused Foam Board with a Radiant Barrier on either side, and Fire block ZypFoam. The homeowner now has a more comfortable upstairs that is easier to keep cool in the summer while also keeping the upstairs warmer during the winter.
