Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most effective ways to save money on electricity bills and make your home energy efficient.
However, there are many things to consider when applying attic insulation, as it involves buying the right equipment, knowing how much material to buy, and hiring the right type of labor. Not only that, but there are also federal, state, and local regulations regarding home insulation that needs to be taken into account before embarking on this process.
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Alaska homeowners will need to optimize these various components to make sure they’re getting the best possible attic insulation for their homes. In this article, we discuss which components Alaska residents need to keep an eye on to make sure their attic stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Table of Contents
Alaska Attic Insulation Guide
What type of insulation is best for Alaska attics?
Depending on which parts of your attic you’re trying to insulate, we recommend two different types of insulation material.
Floor Insulation
For attic floors, there are two main types of insulation: roll and batt insulation and loose-fill or blown-in insulation. Batt and roll work best between joist and stud spaces, or for wide-open spaces or crawl spaces. Blown-in insulation works best for extremely tight spaces, or if an area already has insulation installed but needs a little more to top it off. They’re also useful for filling wood joists, as they allow air through the spaces and require insulation.
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In Alaska, it’s more likely than not that your attic is going to need insulation in tight spaces. Blown-in insulation is perfect for that scenario, as it provides better coverage in smaller areas and is less expensive than roll and batt insulation. You can purchase fiberglass or cellulose insulation, whichever you prefer. Just remember that installing blown-in insulation is going to require a special insulation blowing machine that you’ll likely need to rent.
Roof Insulation
For insulation under your roof, we recommend using multi-layer reflective insulation. That might sound complicated, but we assure you it’s quite simple and is extremely beneficial for efficiently heating or cooling your home.
During the summer months, the sun’s radiant energy heats your roof shingles, which then transfers that heat into your attic through conduction. Your attic then becomes much hotter and stuffy, and the heat travels down into the rest of your home, making the entire house hot. During the winter, it has the opposite effect, as the heat generated by your heaters escapes through the attic walls.
Multi-layer reflective insulation addresses this issue by reflecting radiant heat rather than letting your attic absorb it. Thus, radiant heat can’t get through your attic roof and walls as easily, allowing your attic and the rest of your home to be better air-conditioned. During the winter, the heat generated from inside will also be reflected back into the attic and home, making your home that much warmer.
Alaska has multiple climate zones that include an arctic type in the extreme north, oceanic to subpolar oceanic in the southeast and southwest, and subarctic continental in the interior and southcentral regions. Patches of cold semi-arid type regions lie in the extreme north-central and east.
Knowing which materials to use is a key step in the process. The subsequent component deals with just how much attic insulation you’re going to need for your Alaska home.
How much attic insulation do you need in Alaska?
To determine how much insulation you’re going to need, measure the length times the width of the attic or whichever space you’re trying to insulate to get the square footage. For blown-in insulation, reference the back of the package to determine the proper height to get the correct R-value for your project.
The R-value is a measurement of thermal resistance, or how much the insulation can properly resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation will be in keeping warm air in or out of your attic.
Depending on where you are in the United States, the R-value that you’ll need is going to differ due to varying climate conditions. In fact, there are 8 different climate zones designated by the U.S. Department of Energy that has different R-value recommendations for attics, basem*nts, and other walls. Due to the geographical location and coverage of Alaska, the State falls into two climate zones.
Climate Zone 7 & 8 include Aleutias East, Aleutians West Census Area Anchorage, Bethel Census Area Bristol Bay, Denali, Dillingham Census Area, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome Census Area, North Slope, Northwest Artic, Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Sitka, Skagway, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Wade Hampton Census Area, Wrangell, Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. For Zone 7 & 8, a ceiling R-value of 49 is recommended, whereas the floor R-value should be at least 38.
Thus, square footage and R-values are important determinants of how much insulation you’re going to need for your attic. If you’re unsure about exactly how much insulation you’re going to need, there are R-value calculators online, or you can call a contractor for an accurate quote.
How much does attic insulation cost in Alaska?
Once you’ve figured out what insulation you need and how much needs to be installed, you’re on your way to contacting a contractor and starting the process. But before you do so, it’s important to understand the costs involved with attic insulation.
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Generally speaking, attic insulation can cost anywhere from $1,100 to $1,500, or between $1.50 to $3.50 per foot, depending on the material you choose and how much space you need to cover. As we noted earlier, blown-in insulation is the cheapest option. However, contractors often charge around $70 an hour, and in some cases, you might need to hire an electrician to make sure you aren’t disrupting any junction boxes or cables when insulating the attic. Electricians charge up to $85 an hour.
For Alaska homes, the cost of insulating your attic doesn’t necessarily vary a whole lot, but it’s still important to research average costs depending on where you live. Every house is going to be different, and every city or county is going to have different code regulations. Make sure you check your local building codes for not only R-values but also vapor barrier requirements.
For example, homeowners in Anchorage, Alaska paid on average $1,759 for attic insulation. Compare that to another city in Alaska, say Fairbanks, the average cost is about $1,843. And also Manta’s database estimates attic insulation costs based on each city in Alaska.
Manta’s database estimates attic insulation costs based on each city in Alaska, making it a reliable tool for determining your budget. Even Manta, however, recognizes that their estimates do not include things like permit costs, inspection fees, and labor fees, as that often varies depending on location and contractor rates.
Before contacting a professional to start applying insulation, ask yourself these questions about attic-dependent work outside of insulation:
- Is everything in your attic air sealed? Do you need to fix your ductwork to prevent moisture buildup?
- Does your attic have good ventilation? Does everything that’s ventilating into the attic have a way out of it?
- Is there any mold in your attic? Have you contracted someone to come remove said mold?
If you have all of these bases covered, your attic insulation budget will be far more accurate. Contractors will also have an easier time getting your attic checked and insulated if you’ve taken care of the listed components.
Incentives, tax credits, rebates, and savings programs
Here are programs that are available to Alaska homeowners looking to add insulation:
Residential Weatherization Program
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) administers the Weatherization Program through grants to local service providers. Alaska residents that meetincome criteriaare eligible to receive weatherization services from their local provider at no cost. The program is available to homeowners and renters. Homes that have been weatherized prior to 2008 may also apply. Interested residents should contact a weatherization provider to apply; the list of providers is available on the AHFC program website.
Residences participating in theHome Energy RebateorNew Home RebateProgram may not also participate in the Weatherization Program.
How to hire an Alaska attic insulation contractor?
Once you’ve figured out your attic insulation cost, what types of insulation you need, and how much of it that’s needed, it’s most likely time to find the contractor who can handle the process.
Get an attic inspection
An insulation contractor will be able to properly inspect your attic and decide the necessary steps to take for updating your home’s insulation. You can consult with contractors about what type of insulation to use, R-values, and many of the other components we discussed earlier.
Get a free attic inspection and quote to insulate your attic.
But choosing the right contractor is going to make or break the process, and it can be difficult to choose between tens of dozens of professionals who claim that they’re the best in the business. We’ve identified a few things to keep in mind when hiring an attic insulation contractor.
Make sure they are thorough
First and foremost, pick someone who is thorough and transparent about your attic. If your contractor comes by your house for an inspection, and they perform various diagnostic tests and look through every corner of your attic, that’s an indication of their experience and reliability. Beware of contractors who take a quick peek in your attic and simply suggest putting in a few inches of insulation. A good contractor should initiate conversations about your attic’s insulation and ventilation issues and provide detailed steps on how to move forward.
Check online reviews
But don’t base your decision on just a single interaction with the contractor. Go online and look through their services and offers. If they provide things like lifetime warranties, that means a contractor is not only confident in their work, but they’re also willing to follow up on their services to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Check their online reviews as well to see what others are saying about a contractor. If reviews are generally positive, that’s a sign of a reliable contractor.
Attic insulation is anything but simple, but Alaska homeowners will greatly benefit from doing the proper research and spending their money on the right services and products. A properly insulated attic translates into a much more comfortable and energy-efficient home.
