How Much Attic Insulation R Value

Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different r value.

How much attic insulation r value.

You will need a higher r value of insulation if you live in the northeast than if you live in southern california. For example if your home has cellulose insulation at a depth of 8 inches between the joists the attic insulation has an r value of 3 7 times 8 or 29 6. Lighter in weight than cellulose or mineral wool but it settles more than those materials so you ve got to put in a thicker layer to get the protection you need. The r value of some insulations also depends on temperature aging and moisture accumulation.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. Recommended home insulation r values. Recycled glass or sand that s melted and spun into fibers. Houses in a cold climate should have a minimum of r 49 in the attic which is equivalent to approximately 16 of fiberglass insulation.

Note from this chart that the ideal r value differs for each part of your home. For example if you have a type of insulation that has an r value of r 5 per inch of thickness you will need a depth of 6 inches of this insulation installed your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3. When calculating the r value of a multilayered installation add the r values of the individual layers. Where you live different climates require different insulation r values.

In general to optimally isolate an attic on average an r value of the insulation is required ranging from r 50 to r 60. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are r 13 to r 23 while r 30 r 38 and r 49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces.

The amount of insulation recommended for your home is dependent on where you live but here are some general guidelines. How much insulation should you install. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. The amount of insulation recommended for your home will vary depending on a number of factors.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The r value depends on the type of insulation its thickness and its density. How much is enough. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.