Howmutch Insulatio Should Be In An Attic

Inspecting your attic insulation.

Howmutch insulatio should be in an attic.

First off you should know that insulating your attic isn t cheap. How much insulation do i need in my 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. 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.

It is not uncommon to see 15 to 20 of insulation in a well insulated attic. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. I will tell you that it is very difficult to have too much insulation in your attic but it is easy to have too little.

First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. Insulation levels are specified by r value. Estimates suggest that it ll cost around 1 340. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

Batt blanket or rolled insulation. Batt insulation consists of long rolls of insulation fibers which are held together with a paper or reflective foil backing. How much should i add. The insulation fibers may be comprised of fiberglass cellulose mineral wool or even recycled blue jeans.

These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. How much insulation should i use in my attic. The thicker the better. Before insulating seal any air leaks and make roof and other necessary repairs.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Also keep in mind that it is possible to use a hybridized approach by combining. Insulation level are specified by r value. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

If it is less than an equivalent of r 30 you could probably benefit by adding more. The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick. The amount of insulation that you use in your attic will vary mostly on the region you live in. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live.