Sealed Attic & Roof Deck in Columbia, TN

Insulate the roofline instead of the ceiling, and bring the ductwork inside the house.

A sealed or unvented attic moves the thermal and air boundary from the attic floor up to the underside of the roof. The soffit and ridge vents are closed, foam goes against the deck, and the attic becomes a semi-conditioned part of the house rather than a hot outdoor space with your air conditioning running through it.

This is the assembly that actually fixes the common Charlotte complaint. An attic at 130 degrees with uninsulated or poorly sealed flex duct running through it loses a substantial fraction of the cooling before it reaches a register, and no thermostat setting compensates for that. Bring the attic to within a few degrees of the house and the duct losses largely stop mattering.

It has to be detailed properly. Combustion appliances in the attic need to be sealed-combustion or relocated, the assembly has to satisfy the North Carolina energy code for an unvented attic, and indoor humidity needs a plan. Done carelessly, a sealed attic is how you get a moisture problem where you did not have one.

Typical cost: $5,000 - $16,000 depending on roof area, pitch, foam type and what has to come out first

When sealed attic is the right call

• Air handler or duct runs located in the attic
• An upstairs that runs hot regardless of thermostat setting
• A bonus room or finished space with knee walls against attic space
• Re-roofing or renovating, when the assembly is already open

Other services

• Spray Foam Insulation
• Open-Cell Spray Foam
• Closed-Cell Spray Foam
• Air Sealing & Blower Door Testing
• Insulation Removal & Replacement

Common questions