How Much Insulation Is Required In Attic

If your attic insulation is only a few inches thick or if you can see the ceiling joists you re wasting money on your heating and cooling bills.

How much insulation is required in attic.

Having enough insulation in your attic is one of the best ways to save energy on both heating and cooling your home. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. The thicker the better.

Increasing attic insulation to an r 50 can provide a good barrier to heat loss. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. In zone 5 the average minimum requirement for attic insulation is 11 inches of r38 fill. In general to optimally isolate an attic on average an r value of the insulation is required ranging from r 50 to r 60.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. The higher the r value the better job the insulation does at preventing the transfer of heat. To determine the present r value of your attic insulation have an energy assessment. Having the correct amount of attic insulation can help you maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your home and help save money on your energy bills plus prevent major issues like ice dams in the winter.

The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick. How much insulation in attic for zones 5 7. 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. When adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your.

How much insulation do i need in my attic. You can also measure the height of the insulation and multiply times the r value per inch of the ma terial that is in place 2 5 to 4 0 per inch on average. Insulation level are specified by r value. 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 average recommended level is 17 inches of r60. How well a particular insulation works is expressed by the r value which ranges from 2 0 to 8 0 per inch of insulation. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. The average recommended level is 17 inches of r60.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Add the right kind of insulation.

In zone 6 the average minimum requirement for attic insulation is 14 inches of r49 fill.