How do you insulate an open ceiling?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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If your structure does not need to be well insulated, you can simply sandwich a layer of aluminum foil insulation or rigid foam between your finish ceiling and a layer of sheathing. Place the sheathing layer on top of the insulation and secure it with nails that pass through the insulation into the rafters.



Similarly, what is the best insulation for ceilings?

Better materials for attic roof insulation are rigid foam boards and spray foam insulation.

  • Spray foam: Technically known as Spray Polyurethane Foam or SPF, spray foam is most commonly applied in the space between attic rafters.
  • Rigid foam insulation: Rigid foam, like the SilverGlo® insulation from Dr.

Also, what R value insulation do I need for ceiling? Depending on where you live and the part of your home you're insulating (walls, crawlspace, attic, etc.), you'll need a different R-Value. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.

Likewise, people ask, what type of insulation is best for cathedral ceilings?

Foam ceiling insulation is an excellent solution where moisture is a problem. Solve moisture and rot problems in insulated cathedral ceilings with closed-cell foam ceiling insulation. It fills and seals the space and doesn't absorb moisture.

How do you insulate a sloped ceiling?

Here are your top insulation choices for unvented sloped ceilings:

  1. Install 7 inches of spray foam on the underside of the roof sheathing and leave the rest of the rafter cavity open.
  2. Install 4 inches of spray foam on the underside of the roof sheathing and fill the rest of the cavity with fiberglass batts.

38 Related Question Answers Found

Do you need to vent a cathedral ceiling?

A balanced system of soffit and ridge ventilation provides continuous ventilation of hot, moist air at the hottest point of the roof. Even with the attic bypasses sealed and effective vapor retarders installed, proper ventilation is essential to prevent moisture problems in cathedral ceilings.

Can you over insulate your attic?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. Any new batt or roll insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic needs to be without a vapor retarder (face). The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture.

Should you insulate roof rafters?

Insulating between rafters will do no good, because the attic should be ventilated, and the rafter insulation would be between two unheated spaces. You can add insulation to the floor; the more the merrier. Also, make sure the attic is well ventilated. Cold roofs prevent ice dams.

How do you ventilate a cathedral ceiling?

However, if you add a vaulted or cathedral ceiling to the design, the ventilation requirements become much more specific. Most Cathedral or Vaulted ceilings are built by simply extending the living area of the room up into the attic and applying the ceiling sheetrock or plaster to the underside of the roof rafters.

What insulation should I use for garage ceiling?


The best insulation options for your garage will depend on whether the space has existing drywall or if the walls and ceiling are exposed. The most common insulations used in garages include fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam, and injection foam.

How much insulation do I need in my garage ceiling?

If the joists are 10 inches deep, the cavity can take high-density R-30 insulation, which is 8 1/2 inches thick, more than enough for floor insulation. If the garage is open to the rafters, the boards that support the roof, use R-38 insulation between the rafters at the roof, if they are 10 inches deep.

Do I need to insulate my garage ceiling?

It isn't important to insulate the ceiling between the attic and the garage because those areas are not affected by a home's heating and cooling system. It is important to insulate any walls that separate the garage from air-conditioned rooms in the house.

Is insulating the garage worth it?

In that case, insulating the garage is definitely worth it because I'd want as much of the heat or cool air to stay in the garage for as long as possible. Running a heater or air conditioner costs a lot of money. Buying a whole new insulated garage door might be better, but it will cost about $1500!

Do I need to insulate basement ceiling?

Unconditioned Basements
If there is no need for this heat, the basement ceiling should be insulated to keep the heat upstairs in the living space (if some heat is desired in the basement, see "Conditioned Basements" below). Insulating the basement ceiling will keep most of the heat upstairs in the living space.

How do you insulate a ceiling without removing drywall?


Soundproofing Walls and Ceilings Without Removing the Drywall
  1. Use Decor to Your Advantage. The decor can be very helpful when you're soundproofing your place.
  2. Hang Fabrics on the Ceiling.
  3. Level up with Soundproofing Materials.
  4. Build on Top of the Existing Wall.
  5. Drop the Ceiling.
  6. Soundproof the Floor Above If You Can.

How do you insulate between rafters?

The usual way to do this is by inserting rigid insulation boards between the rafters. They should be cut to exactly the right size so they fit snugly and don't allow any draughts through. To get the required 270mm thickness of insulation, you may have to insulate over the rafters as well, using insulated plasterboard.

Can you turn a regular ceiling into a vaulted ceiling?

Vaulted ceilings add stunning height and architectural features to your home. But converting a traditional ceiling to a vaulted ceiling isn't as simple as removing ceiling joists and nailing wall board to the bottom of the rafters.

How much does it cost to make a cathedral ceiling?

Depending on how steep your roof pitch is, vaulting a 20-by-20-foot room creates a new ceiling that's 11 to 12 feet high at its peak. The price isn't low, though. You'll pay $18,000 to $25,000.

Do vaulted ceilings add value?

Vaulted ceilings can add value to your home. However, in warm climates, rooms with vaulted ceilings and large windows heat up more quickly than rooms with smaller windows, which means you may have to make more use of your air conditioner. Regardless of the energy costs, vaulted ceilings generally add value to a home.

Can you vault a flat ceiling?


Vaulted ceilings are either built into the house from the start, added into an addition, or expensively retrofitted into an existing structure. A tray ceiling looks like a conventional, 8-foot, flat ceiling, but with a center flat portion that is raised about a foot or so.

Are high ceilings worth it?

There's the immediate sense of space, air, and light. High ceilings are interesting, appealing, and have definite advantages. They are elegant, fascinating, and luxurious – and open up the room. In warmer climates, it's easier to cool homes with high ceilings – making the residence more energy-efficient.

What is the difference between a vaulted ceiling and a cathedral ceiling?

What is the difference between a vaulted and a cathedral ceiling? Cathedral ceilings have two equal, sloping sides that are parallel to the pitch of the roof and the two sides of the slopes meet at a ridge which runs across the length of the room. Vaulted ceilings do not necessarily follow the pitch of the roof.