Standard Attic Insulation R Value

In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49.
Standard attic insulation r value. Your home s age if your home is more than 10 year old you likely need more insulation. Recommended home insulation r values. You will need a higher r value of insulation if you live in the northeast than if you live in southern california. There are many ways to retrofit a home with fiberglass and.
Insulation level are specified by r value. R value measures how well certain building insulation materials can resist heat. Where you live different climates require different insulation r values. As a benchmark one inch of solid wood has an r value of 1.
The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. 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. 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. 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 table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. 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. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60.
The further north northeast you go the colder it is and the more necessary r value will grow. Fiberglass batts for standard 2 4 walls are now available in low medium and high density products that range from r 11 to r 15. Let s say the insulation you ve selected has an r value of three per inch and. Average ratings the r value for cellulose insulation in an attic depends on several factors including the size shape and construction of your attic typical weather conditions where you live any.
The higher the r value the greater the insulation performance. While some ceilings in the southwestern part of the united states require a minimum of r 19 insulation most attics or ceiling areas require a minimum of r 38 in the ceiling.