When it comes to protecting your home from the elements, installing the right kind of attic insulation is essential. In Miami-Dade County, Florida, the Florida Building Code requires that all homes have a minimum R-30 attic insulation. This is especially important if you have an unfinished basement or one that is always cold and drafty. Not only will proper insulation help retain heat, but it will also protect your basement from moisture, mold, mildew, and pests.
Additionally, roof insulation materials must have a minimum of R-30.Floor insulation must also meet certain requirements. According to the Florida Building Code, it must be a minimum of R-13. To ensure that your roof covering is properly protected from the elements, you should install a secondary water barrier with grooved and flap wood coating. This should be covered with either a polymer-modified self-adhesive coating sheet or a cover sheet approved with hot wet asphalt. Attic ventilation air (“air flow”) is designed to be supplied by ceiling ventilation openings to control humidity in the attic space through the dilution air exchange process.
To prevent wind from entering the attic and putting pressure on the structure, vinyl and aluminum ceiling vents must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and the support structure must not be separated by more than 12 inches. Floor insulation is especially important if installed above tight spaces, garages, and other parts of the house that may not be heated. Different types of insulation respond differently to weather and building conditions, so it's important to consider this when deciding which type of insulation to use. Gable vents can also make ceiling ventilation ineffective if installed in an attic with ventilation grilles at the edges. If your roof vents are going to have vents at the top of the attic, consider designing and constructing the ceiling assembly in a way that provides “two-stage” air pressure control using a continuous, narrow vent, along with an “expansion chamber” followed by a narrow structural baffle. Additionally, traditional wadding insulation can lose some of its insulating capacity when strong winds blow, so hermetic seals should be used when installing this type of insulation.
Finally, deflectors should be installed to maintain a ventilation space and prevent wind from crossing the fibrous insulation and dislodging it.
