Best R Factor For Attic Insulation

Inspecting and evaluating your insulation.

Best r factor for attic insulation.

Warmer climates only require an r 38 or higher or about 12 or more. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. Recommended home insulation r values. The ideal attic insulation r value is different than the ideal wall insulation r.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Houses in a cold climate should have a minimum of r 49 in the attic which is equivalent to approximately 16 of fiberglass insulation. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value.

Installing more insulation in your home increases the r value and the resistance to heat flow. This material costs less than other rigid foam boards but still offers an r value of. The higher the insulation r value the greater the insulating power. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and.

The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas which makes it. 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 in your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

In particularly cold climates you might go up to. In comparison an inch of blown fiberglass insulation has an r value of 3 1 3 4 and an inch of blown cellulose in an attic has an r value of 3 2 3 7 along with knowing the r value of a particular insulation it is also important to calculate the r value of a total system. Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement. R stands for resistance to heat flow.

Note from this chart that the ideal r value differs for each part of your home. Expanded polystyrene eps or beadboard serves as the best insulating rigid foam for homeowners on a budget. Insulation is identified and labeled by r value. You ll see insulation r values indicated on product packaging and often on the product itself.

These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. In general increased insulation thickness will proportionally increase the r value. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.