How Much Attic Insulation Is Enough

Insulation level are specified by r value.

How much attic insulation is enough.

To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation. The higher the r value the better the. Square footage of your attic. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 30 inches of insulation makes sense nowhere.

Contractor or insulation installer s fee. Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. For example if you install r 19 fiberglass batts in 2x6 frame walls with the studs 16 inches on center double top plates and other elements of standard framing the actual r value of the whole wall with the r 19 insulation will be about r 15. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

You can do it yourself for about 500. Having enough insulation in your attic is one of the best ways to save energy on both heating and cooling your home. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly you probably have enough. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

How much does attic insulation cost. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. If you think you re among the 90 of us homes that are under insulated 1 performing a simple insulation inspection will help you determine your insulation needs.

How well a particular insulation works is expressed by the r value which ranges from 2 0 to 8 0 per inch of insulation. These recommendations are for true r values not the nominal values listed on insulation packaging. The higher the r value the better job the insulation does at preventing the transfer of heat. Even yoda won t live long enough to get a return on investment for that much insulation so it s pretty much pointless.

Support our advertisers for example those in the southernmost part of the us attics should have from r30 to r60 average is r38. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 5 inches of insulation makes sense in most climates. How much should i add. According to home advisor insulating your attic can cost between 1700 to 2100.

See more on different types of insulation. Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly. To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days. So when you ask how much attic insulation is enough be sure to consult the chart below to understand where your state sits with respect to the recommendations for r value.

To see how to add insulation out to the eaves see installing rafter vents. The main factors that impact the cost are. Insulation levels are specified by r value. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft.

Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work.