If I had to do it over again, I’d pay more attention to what’s happening under the roof than what’s on top.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen people spend big on shingles or pitch, but then ignore attic airflow and end up with the same splitting and curling you mentioned. Did you notice any difference in your energy bills after adding the cellulose? I’ve heard mixed things about blown-in vs batt insulation for attics. Also, curious if anyone’s tried those ridge vent baffles—worth it, or just another gimmick?
Funny you mention ridge vent baffles—I used to think they were just another upsell, but after crawling through a few attics with and without them, I’ve seen a real difference in airflow. Less ice damming in winter, too. As for blown-in vs batt, I lean toward blown-in for older homes with weird joist spacing. It fills gaps better, though it can settle over time. Energy bills dropped a bit after cellulose went in, but honestly, the biggest change was how much less the upstairs roasted in July.
- Totally agree on ridge vent baffles—didn’t realize how much difference they’d make until I checked my attic temps last summer.
- Blown-in insulation was a game changer for me too, especially with all the weird nooks in my 1950s place.
- One thing I noticed: after a couple years, some settling happened, so I had to top it off. Not a huge deal, but worth keeping in mind.
- For roof splitting, I also added an attic fan. Not sure it’s for everyone, but it helped keep humidity down during those humid Midwest storms.
- Still get some ice dams, but way less than before. Guess nothing’s perfect, but airflow + insulation combo seems to help most.
I’ve managed a few buildings with older roofs, and honestly, attic fans have been hit or miss for us. Sometimes they help, but I’ve seen them pull conditioned air from the house if the sealing isn’t tight enough. Anyone else run into that? We had to redo some weatherstripping after noticing drafts. Ridge vents and blown-in insulation definitely made more of a difference in our case, especially during those wild temp swings in spring and fall. Still get minor ice dams too—seems like there’s always something.
Sometimes they help, but I’ve seen them pull conditioned air from the house if the sealing isn’t tight enough.
- Seen that too, but in my experience, attic fans can still be a solid fix if you double-check the air sealing first.
- Ridge vents are good, but on low-slope roofs or in super humid spots, I’ve noticed they don’t always move enough air.
- Ice dams—ugh, same here. We tried adding baffles to keep insulation out of the soffits and it helped a bit.
- Noticed less splitting on roofs where we kept attic temps closer to outside temps, even if it meant more venting than usual.
- Guess it’s always a balance... every building seems to need its own mix.