How to Insulate an Attic and Slash Your Heating Bill to Boot

Loose-fill insulation: This insulation requires a machine that blows a stream of fiberglass or cellulose over the existing attic floor framing. It’s typically installed by a contractor, but you can also rent a blower from a home repair store.
One benefit is this insulation fills in tiny gaps and hard-to-reach spaces; it’s also a winner in attics where headroom is limited and rolling batts would be impossible.

Step No. 3: Keep soffits clearWhile insulation should extend all the way to the exterior wall, take care to not block the soffits. These are openings under the edges of your roof that help ventilate a home. To keep these openings clear, you can install baffles, which keep the insulation from expanding into these areas.

​Step No. 4: Watch out around lights If you’re installing insulation near recessed lights, you’ll want to use sheet metal or wire mesh to create a barrier around these fixtures. If insulation comes in contact with lights, it can cause a fire, unless the insulation is marked “insulation contact” or “IC,” which means no barrier is necessary.