Work on the master bedroom came to an abrupt halt this week, as Tig switched his focus to insulating the attic. The weather got milder this past week, and he seized the opportunity to do some work before temperatures dropped.

Much of what needed to be done was spelled out in the energy audit: air sealing and attic floor 6.25″ fiberglass batting insulation. Tig spent most of the week cleaning up the attic, pulling up the floorboards, which were nailed into the attic joists. Anytime wires came up into the attic, or a light fixture, holes need to be filled so that cold air doesn’t blow through insulation like a sieve. Insulation is like wearing a wool sweater. It will keep you warm until icy cold wind blows through it. Tig sealed any air gaps with foam in a can.

Once that was done, we spent much of yesterday laying down insulation between the joists. We bought R-19 encapsulated fiberglass insulation from Lowes. The fiberglass is inside a plastic sleeve to minimize our contact with it. Tig was able to get the rolls out of the car and into the attic.
insulation
I spent a few hours dancing around the floor joists, trying not to put my foot through the second floor ceiling and trying not to hit my head in the corners.
in joists

I was also getting used to the respirator he got for me, which protects my lungs from fiberglass. Between the respirator, which was easily a few pounds hanging off my head, and balancing on joists/floorboards, I was wiped out by the end of the day. Here’s a close up of the insulation.

closeup insulation