The Problem:
The homeowner had an attic that needed additional insulation. The attic floor covered approximately 360 square feet, but the available space was not the same throughout the entire attic. At the front of the attic, there was only about 10 inches of space between the attic floor joists and the roof rafters. At the back of the attic, the available space increased to approximately 3 feet.
This difference in space made the insulation work more challenging. Our team needed to make sure the attic received enough insulation in both areas while working around the limited access at the front. The homeowner also had a separate concern. Ice buildup had been observed at the front of the home. The cause was not immediately clear, so exploratory work was recommended to determine what was contributing to the problem.
Our Solution:
Zavza Seal addressed the attic insulation needs and planned an investigation into the ice buildup.
Blown-In Cellulose Attic Insulation
The attic already had a ladder providing access to the space. Our team planned to use blown-in cellulose loose-fill insulation across the attic floor.
At the front of the attic, we installed approximately 10 inches of cellulose insulation, providing an estimated R-38 insulation level.
At the back of the attic, where there was more available space, we installed up to approximately 20 inches of cellulose insulation, providing an estimated R-70 insulation level. Using different insulation depths allowed our team to make use of the available attic space while improving coverage across the entire attic floor.
Working Around Limited Attic Access
The 10-inch area at the front of the attic presented an access challenge. If the existing attic access was not enough to reach this section, the homeowner agreed to allow our team to create access openings in the ceiling.
This would give our insulation hose a path into the tighter section of the attic so the cellulose could be properly distributed. After the insulation work, Zavza Seal planned to patch, tape and spackle the ceiling openings, leaving them ready for final sanding and painting.
Investigating the Ice Buildup
The insulation work was only part of the project.
The homeowner had also noticed ice buildup at the front of the home. Because ice buildup can have several possible causes, our team planned exploratory work to identify the source rather than assuming the cause.
The investigation would focus on the affected area shown in the project photographs.
Once the source was identified, Zavza Seal would provide the homeowner with its findings and prepare a detailed proposal for any recommended corrective work.
This approach allowed the team to investigate the problem first before recommending a specific repair.
The Result:
Zavza Seal improved the insulation plan for this approximately 360-square-foot Brooklyn attic by using blown-in cellulose insulation at different depths based on the available space.
The front portion received approximately 10 inches of insulation for an estimated R-38, while the back portion received up to 20 inches for an estimated R-70.
The project also accounted for the difficult access to the tighter front section of the attic.
At the same time, our team began investigating the ice buildup at the front of the home. Rather than treating the visible ice without knowing the cause, the plan focused on identifying the underlying issue and then developing the appropriate repair.