Insulation Depth Guage
Know how much insulation has settled over time, and when it's due to be topped off.
Before blowing insulation into an attic, professional insulation crews often staple depth sticks to the webbing of roof trusses. These cardboard rulers accomplish several purposes: They let the installers know exactly how much insulation they are laying down and allow them to provide photo documentation to homeowners, contractors, or building officials. Also, they make the building inspector’s job much easier if the inspector prefers poking a head up in the attic rather than relying on a photo. Finally, the insulating value of both fiberglass and cellulose insulation is reduced as they settle over time. Knowing exactly how much the insulation has compressed can let homeowners know when their attic is due to be topped off. I don’t insulate attics very often, and when I do it’s usually a smaller job, so instead of buying depth sticks (which are mostly sold in bulk) I just write my own measurement on the truss webbing with a marker.
— Mark Petersen; Waco, Kentucky
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #323
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