Attic Insulation R Value Chart

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and.

Attic insulation r value chart.

A high r value then means higher effectiveness. 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. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

How well insulation resists heat flow depends on how and where you install the insulation. Recommended home insulation r values. Chart courtesy of energy star. You will need a higher r value of insulation if you live in the northeast than if you live in southern.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The r value depends on the type of insulation density and thickness. Installing more insulation in your home increases the r value and the resistance to heat flow. When calculating the r value of a multilayered installation add the r values of the individual layers.

Along with knowing the r value of a particular insulation it is also important to calculate the r value of a total system. How much insulation should you install. For some types of insulation the r value also depends on aging temperature and moisture. How do you figure out 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. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The greater the r value the greater the insulating performance. As a benchmark one inch of solid wood has an r value of 1.

Install insulation with the proper r value. 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. The r value of some insulations also depends on temperature aging and moisture accumulation. Colder climates will typically require a higher r value for even greater thermal.

Note from this chart that the ideal r value differs for each part of your home. Where you live different climates require different insulation r values. 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. The amount of insulation recommended for your home will vary depending on a number of factors.