Honestly, I get what you’re saying about sealing up the obvious stuff first, but I kinda wonder if skipping the bigger picture with those green labels is short-sighted. I mean, I patched up a bunch of leaks in my old place too, but it wasn’t until I actually looked into the insulation rating and air exchange that I noticed a real difference in comfort (and bills). Some of those certifications seem like overkill, but a few do push you to fix things you’d never think of on your own. Not saying they’re all worth it, but sometimes the checklist helps when you’re overwhelmed by where to start.
Some of those certifications seem like overkill, but a few do push you to fix things you’d never think of on your own.
Totally get what you mean—those checklists can feel like a rabbit hole. I started with weatherstripping and a couple tubes of caulk, then realized my attic insulation was basically a thin blanket from the 80s (oops). The “green” labels did nudge me to test for air leaks around outlets and basement rim joists, which I’d never have thought about. Honestly, some of the requirements are kinda wild, but I guess if you pick and choose, they’re not all bad. For me, it’s been more about grabbing useful ideas than chasing every certification.
For me, it’s been more about grabbing useful ideas than chasing every certification.
Same here. I just want my house to feel less drafty and maybe save a bit on bills—not win some fancy plaque. Did you notice any real difference after fixing the attic insulation? Worth the hassle?
Did you notice any real difference after fixing the attic insulation? Worth the hassle?
Honestly, I’d say it depends on what you’re starting with. When I first moved in, my attic had that old, patchy fiberglass from the 70s—barely did anything. After I beefed it up with blown-in cellulose (not fancy spray foam or anything), I noticed the upstairs stayed warmer in winter and cooler during the summer. Not a dramatic drop on the energy bill, but definitely less of that “cold draft around your ankles” feeling.
That said, it was kind of a pain crawling around up there. If your current insulation isn’t terrible, you might get more bang for your buck sealing up air leaks around can lights and attic hatches first. Sometimes those little gaps make more difference than another R-value layer.
I get what you mean about not chasing plaques or certifications. But even if you’re not after a label, some of those green building checklists have good ideas buried in them—just skip the stuff that doesn’t fit your house or budget.
I hear you on the air sealing, but I actually had the opposite experience—adding more insulation gave me a bigger payoff than I expected. Our house was built in the late 80s, and while the insulation wasn’t awful, it was definitely below what’s recommended these days. I tackled the attic in stages: first I sealed up the obvious gaps around pipes and light fixtures (using those foam gaskets and some caulk), then I rolled out another layer of batts on top of what was already there.
The difference was way more noticeable than just sealing alone. The upstairs used to roast in summer and freeze in winter—now it’s way more even. Not saying air sealing isn’t important (it totally is), but if your insulation’s thin, topping it up can really help too. And yeah, crawling around up there is a pain...but I only had to do it once.
About those green checklists—I get why they’re overwhelming, but sometimes they point out stuff you’d never think of otherwise. I just treat them like a buffet: pick what fits, skip what doesn’t.
Interesting, because for me, air sealing made a much bigger difference than just piling on more insulation. Our attic already had a decent amount of batts, but there were so many drafts around the attic hatch and recessed lights that cold air just poured in. Once I spent a weekend with a can of spray foam and some weatherstripping, the temp swings upstairs dropped way more than after I added more R-value. Maybe it depends on the house? Sometimes I wonder if people skip the boring sealing steps and just go straight to insulation because it feels more “visible.” Anyone else notice that?
Air sealing usually gets overlooked, but honestly, it’s the first thing I check when people complain about drafts or uneven temps. I see a lot of folks adding more insulation without realizing their windows or attic hatches are just leaking air nonstop. Insulation’s great, but if you’ve got gaps, it’s like wearing a thick coat with the zipper wide open.
Curious if you noticed any difference around your windows after sealing up the attic? Sometimes people forget about those, and I’ve seen old double-hungs leak like crazy, even with decent attic work. In my place, just swapping out the weatherstripping on a few windows made almost as much difference as the attic air sealing did.
I wonder if all these green building labels actually make it clear how important air sealing is, or if they just focus on flashy insulation numbers. Feels like the basics get lost in all the marketing sometimes...