I guess you didn’t look at
I guess you didn’t look at the date when you started. :~)

Not sure why you're asking me and not Allison, but I do have an answer for you. I would not recommend insulating the attic ceiling nor would I recommend a solar power attic fan. Here's what I would recommend instead:

First, seal all the air leaks between the conditioned space and the attic. One of the (few) good attributes of "he pink stuff" is that it's relatively easy to pull it aside so that all air leakage sites can be foamed or otherwise air-sealed.

After the air-sealing is completed beef up the insulation levels on that attic floor with blown insulation (I prefer blown cellulose and I always go beyond code requirements; the marginal costs are small and I don't want to ever go into this attic again.)

All that insulation will effectively "decouple" the attic space from the conditioned house below. Do I care if it gets hot up there? Nope, not in the least. There is, however, one important caveat: If you have duct in the attic you do care. But the solution is not to cool that attic but instead to deal with ducts, which shouldn't be there in the first place.

Hope this helps.

Bill

William W. Hill, Ph.D.
W. W. Hill & Associates

I have a question – My 4 bedroom home is a 15 year old colonial @ 2,400 square feet. The attic floor is insulated (the pink stuff). Would it make sense to insulate the attic ceiling to lower the radiant heat before installing a solar powered attic fan.

With all the conflicting theories about attic fans I'm now more confused about what I need to do than I was 2 weeks ago…..HELP!!

Tony

Not sure why you're asking me and not Allison, but I do have an answer for you. I would not recommend insulating the attic ceiling nor would I recommend a solar power attic fan. Here's what I would recommend instead:

First, seal all the air leaks between the conditioned space and the attic. One of the (few) good attributes of "he pink stuff" is that it's relatively easy to pull it aside so that all air leakage sites can be foamed or otherwise air-sealed.

After the air-sealing is completed beef up the insulation levels on that attic floor with blown insulation (I prefer blown cellulose and I always go beyond code requirements; the marginal costs are small and I don't want to ever go into this attic again.)

All that insulation will effectively "decouple" the attic space from the conditioned house below. Do I care if it gets hot up there? Nope, not in the least. There is, however, one important caveat: If you have duct in the attic you do care. But the solution is not to cool that attic but instead to deal with ducts, which shouldn't be there in the first place.

Hope this helps.

Bill

William W. Hill, Ph.D.
W. W. Hill & Associates

I have a question – My 4 bedroom home is a 15 year old colonial @ 2,400 square feet. The attic floor is insulated (the pink stuff). Would it make sense to insulate the attic ceiling to lower the radiant heat before installing a solar powered attic fan.

With all the conflicting theories about attic fans I'm now more confused about what I need to do than I was 2 weeks ago…..HELP!!

Tony