Clients that want to use the attic as a conditioned space do not necessarily have to heat and cool the space therefore adding to the HVAC load. That assumption is incorrect. By insulating the roof deck we are reducing the conductive heat from the sun bearing down onto the roof and eliminating cold drafts that typically keep an attic 20 or more degrees cooler in the winter months here in New England.

Entering an attic insulated on the floor with R-50 in July is virtually unbearable. An HVAC unit located in this space will struggle and be VERY energy inefficient, reminding you that in NE many HVAC units are placed in the attic. By conditioning the floors below at a normal temperature of 70 degrees in the summer and by adding an R-30 or more of SPF on the roof deck, the attic space will not typically exceed 80 degrees. So instead of an HVAC unit struglling to cool an entire house while running at a 160 degree operating temp, it will efficiently operate at a comfortable 80 degrees and save the homeowner boat loads of utility costs.

To summarize, the load of the HVAC systems located in the attic itself will be greatly reduced. If the attic is already used regularly for traffic, storage and rooming then the thermal barrier should be the roof deck and not the attic floor. The opening and closing of attic stairs with regular traffic can boost a utility bill by 10% if it is unconditioned. If finishing an attic for rooms, most homeowners will run HVAC up there anyways so why not insulate it properly. The foam holds up great at 160 degree heat and will typically keep an attic around 80 degrees without any A/C with and R-30 or greater of SPF.

Should you have any other questions or concerns feel free to give us a shout. We are always glad to answer questions and concerns of consumers.