Reputation: 331

Recently, I poked my head in the attic and noticed two pipes. What's the best diy way to insulate them from freezing? Can I just wrap batting or spray foam them? I really don't want to install something that requires wiring or anything electrical to protect them. Thanks for your help.

Reputation: 484

Hi FW, Yes, you can just wrap them with insulation or you can snug some insulation down on top of them, over them. If they are near the ceiling, they will benefit from the warmth that rises from the living space below and the insulation will serve as a blanket.

Reputation: 16288

If your attic has pipes carrying potable colder hot water in them, and you live in a climate where attics often have freezing temperatures, I would first be somewhat surprised and I would recommend asking a plumber to investigate if there was a way to eliminate these runs -- unless you resort to heated pipe tape these pipes WILL burst when you are away from home, the water is stagnant, the weather is especically cold. Very very bad...

There are devices that can be plumbed into lines to force circulation which would greatly reduce odds of freezing, similarly you could increase total insulation in attic (which is pretty nearly always a really good idea) so that warmth from living space tends to surround pipes, or you could start planning for fixing the problem.

Location: Knoxville

Reputation: 4431

If they are waste/vent pipes (the ones that go thru the roof), don't bother.

Location: Grosse Ile Michigan

Reputation: 18305

IN any event, the easiest way to insulate pipes is to buy pre-shaped pipe insulation pieces for the size of pipe that you need to insulate. You cna get them at any home inprovement store. These are foam tubes with a slit in one side. To insulate a pipe, you cut the tube to length, open it up and slip it over the pipe - done. You can tape the joints on long runs if you wish, but it is not really necessary. You may have to do a bit of work to handle corners and joints, but it is not hard. You can also just wrap and tape the coners and joints if you want the easy way.

Location: NE CT

Reputation: 694

If they are water pipes you should find out what they service and why they are in the attic. This is very unusual to have water pipes in the attic unless you are dealing with an old Victorian home with a third floor that had servants quarters.

We really need more information here. When was your house built? What style is it. A walk up attic or a crawl space attic with those pull down stairs. Are there floors or just joists filled in between with insulation.

To find out if there is water in them, test by running several different things separately. First try a sink, then another, then a shower and then a bath tub, etc etc. You will hear the water moving through the pipe. If you try everything and don't hear any water moving through the pipes, they aren't working water pipes or they don't service water. Could it be a one inch gas line? Be careful with those so as no to kink them. Gas won't freeze so no problem there.

Reputation: 331

I saw two pvc pipes and assumed they're plumbing pipes. I live in the south and read where it's common for plumbing pipes to go through the attic here since there are fewer freezing days than in the north, where plumbing pipes run through heated areas.

The house is five years old. No gas lines. The attic has joists with insulation in between them, so no attic floor to easily walk across. No attic stairs, so I use a ladder. I need to look and see whether the pipes go through the roof. I thought waste would go down and out of the sewer lines and not through the attic. Never heard of sewer gas before.

Location: Knoxville

Reputation: 4431

As far as the attic not getting cold...I would suggest going up in an attic when it is below freezing sometime. It is very cold it attics. While heat does rise, the attic insulation keeps the heat inside the house. I have been in attics where I could see my breath when I was walking around.

If the pipes in the attic are water supply, they will likely be no larger that 3/4". The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

Location: NE CT

Reputation: 694

Quote:

The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

Location: Grosse Ile Michigan

Reputation: 18305

Quote:

As far as the attic not getting cold...I would suggest going up in an attic when it is below freezing sometime. It is very cold it attics. While heat does rise, the attic insulation keeps the heat inside the house. I have been in attics where I could see my breath when I was walking around.

If the pipes in the attic are water supply, they will likely be no larger that 3/4". The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.

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Insulating pipes in attic (floors, roof, heat, drains ...

Prepping your house for sale is necessary to get top dollar, but dont sink too much into a property thatll soon not be yours. Recouping some of those funds at closing is ideal.

Aside from general house cleaning, organizing and staging, here are some top midrange home improvement projects that yield the best return on your investment, according to Remodeling Magazines 2017 Cost vs. Value Report:

A home thats warm in the winter and cool in the summer is often taken for granted, but not every house is insulated properly. If you suspect yours has issues, have an insulation pro inspect the attic floor to make sure its sealed to prevent air leakage. Then cover it with fiberglass loose-fill insulation until the proper R factor is achieved.

The R-value measures the insulations ability to resist heat traveling through it the higher the value, the better the performance. A minimum value of R-30 is recommended.

Cost recouped: 108 percent

If your entry door is faded or damaged, swap it out for a new version. Consider taking it up a notch by adding glass panels alongside or in the door. For a consistent look, try matching the new door with the garage door and/or the shutters.

Cost recouped: 91 percent

The classic look of stone is a top trend in todays market, and if youre able to incorporate the look in your homes exterior, itll be worth it.

There are a couple ways to get the look of a stone house, including replacing the existing vinyl siding from the lower portion of your homes street-facing faade. You can also use the stone veneer to highlight an archway or porch columns.

Cost recouped: 90 percent

If your kitchen is dated, certain updates can draw buyers. Potential buyers want to picture themselves cooking and enjoying the space; they dont care about your ceramic rooster collection or wine-bottle wallpaper.

Replace or reface the cabinet surfaces and hardware, and make sure appliances are energy-efficient and match. Replace laminate countertops with a neutral-colored granite or quartz and maybe update the floor.

Cost recouped: 80 percent

Its often overlooked, but the garage door has an impact on a homes overall appearance.

If youre stuck with a builder-grade garage door, upgrading to a more stylish model is worth consideration. You can choose from steel, glass, wood, faux wood or aluminum doors that come in modern, contemporary or classic looks. Most garage door dealers have software programs which allow you to virtually try on different options using a photograph of your house.

Cost recouped: 77 percent

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Upgrades that boost home's resale value - Fredericksburg.com

Remodeling an attic can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, endeavour.

Converting your attic into a room can be a fantastic way to fully utilize the space in your home. Unlike other areas in your home, there are unique tricks to finishing this space, which provide a lot of creative leeway. From wooden ceilings to creative storage solutions, remodeling an attic into a room can be a fun project as long as you plan properly.

Check that converting your attic is actually feasible. The best way to accomplish this is to have an inspection done by a contractor so that you can learn exactly what you need to do to meet the building codes in your area. Although not usually free, it can save you plenty of money and stress in the long run. Oftentimes, this means ensuring there are at least two ways out of the attic (staircase and window) or the possibility of creating two escape routes. It's also important to know whether or not the ceiling is high enough for the space to be considered usable. Youll need a stationary staircase (not a pull-down) in order to meet most building codes as well as ceilings that are at least 7 feet high in more than half of the attic. You may need to reinforce the joists in the attic floor so that it can support the weight of the flooring, furniture and people. In order to count the room as a bedroom, ensure that there is a window and a closet; however, if you only plan to use the space as a play area, media room or office, you may be able to skip this part.

The floors are the best place to start once you have everything planned and the necessary permits. It is almost always a good idea to reinforce the joists and install the subfloor before moving on to the rest of the space. Unless you have high attic ceilings, youll likely want to install beadboard paneling or thinner, longer pieces of standard drywall along the perimeter of the room. Always install the drywall directly to the wall studs. Keep in mind that you dont have to use drywall for the ceiling. Depending on the type of finish youre looking to achieve, installing plywood on the ceiling in lieu of drywall can make finishing the space easier as you dont have to worry about mudding and taping. You can use the plywood as a base to install beadboard as a finish, or use higher-quality plywood and stain and finish it to create a wooden ceiling.

One of the most important parts of converting an attic is ensuring that you properly insulate it. As its directly below the roof of your home, it will lose heat and cool air significantly faster than any other part of your home. Youll want to use R-30 insulation in the ceiling and R-13 in the walls in most cases, although this will vary by area. If youre unsure as to the best type of insulation to use, ask someone at your local home improvement store for advice.

Deciding what to do with the edges of the room which are often only a few feet high can be difficult. If you dont need the storage, install paneling along the perimeter up to where the wall meets the ceiling to help prevent the space from seeming too basic or blank. Using this space for storage by installing premade cabinets or building your own to fit the space perfectly, can help to make what is often a smaller space more useable, especially if its going to be a bedroom.

Amanda Bell spent six years working as an interior designer and project coordinator before becoming a professional writer in 2010. She has published thousands of articles for various websites and clients, specializing in home renovation, DIY projects, gardening and travel. Bell studied English composition and literature at the University of Boston and the University of Maryland.

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How to Remodel an Attic Into a Room | Home Guides | SF Gate

Attics can be converted into living spaces.

Attic spaces are most commonly used for storage, but they can also be remodeled to provide extra living space in a home if there is sufficient room. When you remodel a small attic, you have multiple options as you go about designing the addition, but building codes for living space need to be taken into consideration, as well as structural integrity and support.

Although any walls you add for the remodel need to be framed to provide a support for the drywall, they are not load-bearing walls, which means you do not necessarily need to follow the usual 16-inch stud spacing for load-bearing walls and can instead use 24-inch spacing if you desire. Most attics have sloping walls, and youll want to frame the lower sections to add storage and create a square look and feel to the largest area where you create the living space. Any framing additions should also tie into the existing wall, floor and roof framing for support.

As a general rule, attic floors do not provide sufficient support for a subfloor, which means adding floor joists. This is where things get tricky, as different floor materials have different requirements for required joists and subfloor material. As a general rule, you should use a minimum of two-by-12 engineered material to give you room to add wiring, ductwork or cables. The joists are then covered with at least two layers of 5/8-inch-thick interior-grade plywood.

Living spaces need at least one entrance and one emergency exit to comply with building codes. Although the exit could be a large window, the entrance needs to be a full-sized staircase and doorway with a 6-foot 8-inch clearance at the upper platform, large enough for a door, or it can be left open. The staircase could be interior or exterior if you dont have enough space inside the home and need to run a staircase up the wall of the home.

If you plan on making your attic space into, say, a sewing room or a craft area, you need at least 7 feet of clearance to the ceiling across a floor that is at least 70 square feet. The low-clearance areas around the edge of the room with sloping roofs will need to be used for storage, which is where the framing of small walls comes into play.

Avoid adding bathrooms in attics because you will run into costly plumbing inclusions. Such additions require you to cut into the existing walls and floors to tie into the pipes. In addition, if plan on adding things such as a waterbed, bathroom with a tub, natural stone tiles or anything of substantial weight, you will need to contact a structural engineer to see if you must also shore up the foundation of the home. Also understand that you will need a building permit to convert your attic, and additional inspections are required for wiring, plumbing or mechanical work (such as adding heating, ventilation and air conditioning vents).

Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. His has been published online through GTV Magazine, Home Anatomy, TravBuddy, MMO Hub, Killer Guides and the Delegate2 group. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing.

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Remodeling a Small Attic | Home Guides | SF Gate

Clean snd Serene

After moving in, interior designer Alexandra Hernandez painted the steps, walls and landing white to keep the entire space feeling clean and serene. "I love how the light completely changes the hue of the white stairwell," Alexandra says. "In the early morning it's pure white but just an hour or two later it takes on a slightly orange appearance. It's kind of dreamy."

When initially introduced to the attic, it was simply a bare space with no architectural detail, but Alexandra saw potential to make it a home. Its abundance of natural light made it ideal for a calm, serene, white and beige color scheme.

To add both architectural interest and texture, Alexandra created a wall-mounted headboard made by wrapping plywood with inexpensive batting and burlap, stapling, then attaching to the wall with a nail gun.

The living space is packed with excellent storage. The 36X36 woven resin ottoman holds all of Alexandra's craft supplies, essential to do-it-yourself projects and prop styling jobs.

Do-it-yourself projects from burlap drapery panels to graphic art can be found throughout Alexandra's attic apartment. By cutting plywood and trim with a table saw, Alexandra created an art box which she traced bird silhouettes, then painted the negative space with a high-gloss white.

Alexandra saved on accent pieces such as side tables and mirrors by purchasing them second hand from flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales. For an updated look, the wooden furniture pieces were painted in a high-gloss, muddy, neutral tone.

An avid do-it-yourself professional, Alexandra created a custom headboard made up of individual, burlap-upholstered plywood cubes installed directly to the wall with a nail gun. "What I love most about this project is the linear effect the lines of each cube create; I consider it instant architecture," Alexandra says.

In order to create a warm, comfy living area with very little money, Alexandra started with a cream, 1970s hand-me-down sectional that was dressed-up with new throw pillows and accents of orange. She updated the previously black fireplace with copper spray paint. "Altogether, I think I spent about $250 on the area," Alexandra says. "It looks deceptively high-end."

An inexpensive cubby system stores Alexandra's everyday wardrobe pieces such as T-shirts and socks as well as tools and crafting supplies, and it works as a room divider between the living and sleeping spaces.

Abundant natural light drew the designer to the attic from the get-go. Mirrors from flea markets help reflect light throughout the space. After a few mirrors cracked during transportation, Alexandra decided to keep the frames and put them to use as textural vignettes.

Woven pendants plug into the wall and hang from the ceiling on swag hooks. These round pendants add organic texture that breaks up the rigid, perfect lines of the headboard. The fixtures are excellent for rental spaces since they can be taken with homeowners once they move.

To keep her clothes concealed, Alexandra draped a small aclove opening with burlap that is held slightly open with cotton tie-backs.

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Calm, Earthy Attic Apartment | Home Remodeling - Ideas for ...

Home Insulation Company in Tulsa and OKC

Every customer we serve experiences distinct excellence and quality. Our approach to your home insulation needs is different from most. We dont just throw insulation up there. Rather, we carefully:

With Oklahoma Wall Foam, our customers get a focused and detailed 15 Minute Energy Loss Evaluation for FREE. This will include looking at current insulation levels in your attic and walls. Our approach is simple . . . add insulation to where your home needs it and nowhere else, immediately stopping the financial drain on your budget and increasing your homes comfort level.

As you consider ordering the free Evaluation, please read the 10 Costly Insulation Myths Regarding Your Home to make sure you avoid the costly mistakes so many make with insulation.

In addition, access our Frequently Asked Questions page to discover the low cost of our insulation and the benefits waiting for you!

Your home is one of your most important assets. Protect it with Insulation from Oklahoma Wall Foam Oklahomas Choice for insulation!

For a Free Detailed Energy Loss Evaluation, please call Oklahoma Wall Foam at 918.409.9494.

Our trained experts will be prompt, courteous, never pushy and always have your best interests in mind. Oklahoma Wall is Oklahomas Choice for Insulation. Call 918.409.9494 today and Feel the Difference!!

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OK Wall Foam - Insulation Tulsa | Foam Insulation | Attic ...

Estimate the cost of building an addition in your unused attic. This includes cutting out a roof section, building a shed dormer, installing new windows, insulation, roof, and building a bedroom + bath / shower room in the former attic space.

Building a Shed Dormer / Attic addition increases the usable living space in your house an average of 200-250 sq. ft. and has a resale value of 84.3%, making it a great investment in your home. Select from the options below to calculate these construction costs:

Example of a Shed Dormer Addition:

Addition Specs:

To make this estimate as accurate as possible, the following set of assumptions is used:

A "Medium Quality" addition includes the following:

A "Luxury Quality" addition makes use of better materials. A "Basic Quality" addition has materials quality, suitable for a Rental property, with carpet floors, basic ceramic tile and an acrylic shower in the bathroom.

The actual cost of this remodel can and will vary based on many factors. For a more accurate calculation, use the "Regional" setting to choose in which part of the US you live. Otherwise use the "National Average".

Some Notes About Building a Shed Dormer Addition

If you live in a cold climate, the roof of a shed dormer will be susceptible to Ice Dams build up. This happens because in order to build the shed dormer, you have to increase the ceiling height of the addition to at least 8 ft. making the dormer/addition roof almost flat. This flat or low slope roof increases the chance of ice dam leaks. To avoid these leaks and ice dams build-up, we recommend using a single ply membrane for low slope roofs, such as Rubber or PVC. These can increase the cost of building an addition by $1,400-2,500 on average. Use roofing calculator to compare costs between using asphalt shingles, rubber or PVC single ply material.

Ins some cases, unexpected HVAC issues, such as difficulty in connecting existing system ducts / pipes to the attic, can also increase total cost.

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Attic Addition Calculator - Remodel Calculator

One of the most overlooked areas of a home is the attic. Often forgotten except to store old boxes and keepsakes, attics actually have a lot of potential when it comes to remodeling your home, creating more living space, and opening up the space you already have. Heres some attic remodeling ideas, as well as some common challenges most attic remodels face.

When most people think of remodeling attic space, they often think of lofts or other simple renovations to the space. Dont be afraid to think outside the box, however. If youre still in the planning process, heres a list of some popular remodeling projects involving attic spaces to get your gears turning:

Attic remodeling is full of possibility, however you should keep in mind that there are some challenges when it comes to remodeling attic space. The first is ceiling height. Consider 5 feet to be the absolute minimum height for a usable space, and know that even that is pushing it. Youll be hitting your head on a regular basis even if you do abide by this rule. Raising or modifying your roof is always an option, though the high costs of such a project can be prohibitive in the end. The second challenge you may run into is whether the floor of your attic can support a usable living space. Its not unlikely that you might have to reinforce or replace the floor to safely accommodate living areas. Finally, keep in mind the approach. Youll need a stairway to reach your new attic space, so its important that you plan space accordingly. Spiral staircases can save room, and if your attic remodel doesnt include bedrooms, then ladders are also an option.

Whether you plan to do your remodel yourself or hire a contractor, its important that you have the space evaluated ahead of time so you know what youre getting into. Attic floors and roof joists often play a large structural role in holding your home together, and your homes infrastructure, including wiring, plumbing, and ductwork is often housed in your attic as well. Hiring an architect, contractor, or engineer to come in and do a preliminary evaluation of your attic space can help prepare you for the remodeling project to come, and let you know whether you attic is a good candidate for remodeling in the first place.

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Attic Remodeling - attic space, design, ladders, cost, & more

Home Remodeling Services from the Home Improvement Experts at 31-W Insulation

Home remodeling projects can be huge undertakings, making it crucial for homeowners to entrust their projects to reputable and experienced contractors. Fortunately, you can turn to the experts at 31-W Insulation, a company that has served countless satisfied homeowners since 1972. Were not only committed to providing top-notch home improvement services and impeccable craftsmanship, but were also dedicated to giving our customers the level and quality of service they deserve.

Our devotion to exceeding our customers expectations doesnt end there. We also place great importance on completing each and every one of customers projects with superior building materials. Thats exactly why we only offer home improvement products that have been built to last by the industrys leading manufacturers. While our company may have initially focused on providing insulation installation, we now offer home remodeling services for the entire home. You can count on us for the installation of:

Best of all, because we never utilize the work of subcontractors for our customers home remodeling projects, you can rest assured that your project will receive the attention to detail that youd expect from 31-W Insulation.

Well gladly provide a complimentary in-home estimate for your next home remodeling project. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and begin the exciting process of turning your house into a home.

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Home Remodeling - Attic Insulation

Heating and cooling your attic can be a challenge. In summer, intense sunlight cooks the large expanse of the roof over your head; in winter, drafts from wind and cold suck the cozy out of your new attic remodel. Adequately insulating your remodel and extending your HVAC system are the keys to heating and cooling it year-round.

Insulation options

There are many types of attic insulation to install between roof rafters the most important factor in heating and cooling the attic. Choose the highest possible R-value (a materials ability to block heat moving through it), and install it correctly to prevent heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Also leave a couple of inches between insulation and rafters to allow airflow from soffit vents to roof vents.

Fiberglass batts: Six-inch-thick, high-density fiberglass batt insulation with an R-value of 21 (40 cents/sq. ft.) fits snugly in most 2x8 rafter space but also leaves a couple of inches of airspace. In extreme climates, add more insulation to your attic ceiling by increasing the depth of each rafter by nailing 2x2s on the bottom edges of the rafters. The added depth can accommodate R-30 (43 cents/sq.ft.), 8.5-inch-thick high-density fiberglass batt insulation.

Rigid foam: One way to bump up the R-value of your batts is to attach 1-inch-thick sheets of rigid foam to the rafters over fiberglass insulation, then drywall over it. That combination adds an R-value of about R-6. Expect to pay about $1.30/sq.ft. Of course, adding depth to your rafters lowers the ceiling, so make sure your new ceiling height doesnt violate code restrictions for attic ceilingstypically 7 feet 6 inches.

Spray foam: A third heating and cooling option is to have professionals spray foam into the area between the rafters. The R-value of spray foam is approximately twice that of fiberglass of similar thickness. Prices for spray foam installation vary widely by marketexpect to pay a minimum of $3/sq.ft.

Be sure to insulate interior walls between the living area and any unused portion of the attic, such as the space behind knee walls. Also, plug any heating or cooling escape routes at the ends of gables or around existing windows.

Extending heating and cooling systems

Insulation keeps heating and cooling IN your new attic space, but your HVAC system delivers the heat and cool TO the space. Consult with an HVAC professional to determine if your existing system has the capacity to handle the extra load. Even so, you may have to find a path for new ductwork. In some instances, you can borrow space from a closet in the living area below your attic.

If installing new ductwork isnt feasible, consider installing electric baseboard heaters. Two 1,000-watt baseboard heaters, plus a small baseboard heater for the bathroom, will warm the attic for about $150.

Small air conditioners also can supplement or replace your central air conditioning system. Small window units and portable air conditioners that provide between 7,000 and 10,000 BTUs of cooling power will adequately cool a 15x15 attic room. Expect to pay $300 to $600 for a small air conditioner.

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Heating and Cooling Your Attic Remodel - HouseLogic