When finishing an attic the biggest question is often how to regulate the temperature.
Finished attic too hot.
An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer 50 degrees higher than it should be.
Since parts of a finished attic are usually very close to the roof.
Within the attic insulation is a must.
Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic.
Without properly ventilating the roof your finished space can be just as unpleasant as an unfinished attic.
Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.
A thick insulation between 14 to 18 inches will help reduce heat from entering your home.
What s happening is called reverse stack effect.
Using the current hvac system.
Attic spaces are typically very hot in the summer and very cold through the winter.
The attic is a huge determinant in keeping your entire home cool so the first place to start cooling your home should be the attic.
Because attics are naturally prone to being the hottest space in the house during summer and the coldest space in the house during winter having a working heating and cooling system is a must in a converted attic.
When the attic and attic access are not properly sealed and insulated the hot air coming in through the roof can leak into the lower floors of the home.
And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature.
In addition hot air in your attic could increase moisture levels which could result in wood rot and mold growth.
But by adding powered attic fans you will draw more air into the attic.
Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much.
Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic.
An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate.
Without properly insulating your finished attic room will also be cold in the winter.
The thermostat will usually start at 95 degrees fahrenheit which is the temperature that the attic fan usually starts at.
Having a properly vented attic is the best way to keep attic cool because it allows the hot air to escape during the summer.
Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation.
It will help to keep the attic much cooler in the summertime.
Not only will airsealing not going to make your top floor finished attic hotter in summer it is in fact the only thing that will make it cooler up there.
Your air conditioners are creating cooler drier denser air which sinks to the bottom of the house.
Combine this with the hot air rising from the lower floors and you re looking at a perfect recipe for uncomfortable upstairs environments.
