What is an attic?

The attic can take many physical forms, depending on the type of roof and ceiling configuration:

• Sloped roof with easily accessible attic space;
• Sloped roof with cramped attic space and difficult access;
• Flat roof with easily accessible attic space;
• Flat roof with inaccessible attic;
• Cathedral ceiling that follows the slope of the roof;
• Finished and heated attic;

Some buildings may have more than one type of roof, each requiring a different insulation strategy.

Attic insulation: a simple, cost-effective project

When planning a roof insulation project, the characteristics of the attic must be considered first and foremost, as important technical constraints could limit your choices of suitable insulation.

For example, easy-access attics are generally among the most cost-effective insulation projects you can carry out, both in terms of comfort and savings.

At the other extreme, inaccessible or hard-to-reach attics and cathedral ceilings are projects where insulation should ideally be combined with other work, such as interior renovations or re-roofing.

However, before entrusting insulation work to a general contractor or roofing company, you should be aware that they may not have the required knowledge or access to the same insulation and equipment as a specialized insulation contractor. They may be less efficient and less attentive to the details that make all the difference to the building envelope. Finally, the prices charged are often much higher than those offered by a specialized contractor.

The attic, a place of extremes

Did you know that in the greater Quebec City area, attic temperatures can range from -35 to +60 Celsius over the course of a year? As for relative humidity, it can range from 10% (desert conditions) to 100%!

With such wide variations, the role of insulation and airtightness is central to maintaining occupant comfort. What's more, all these variations end up being reflected in heating and cooling costs if the building envelope is insufficient or deficient in this respect.

Ideally, living spaces should be completely sheltered from the variations experienced in the attic, and the attic should be maintained at the same temperature as the outside air. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. With the exception of meticulously planned and constructed buildings, interior spaces and the attic influence each other. The aim is to minimize this interaction while preserving the integrity of the building.

Source: isolation-airplus.com