Attic Insulation Depth

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.

Attic insulation depth.

Insulation fibers are packaged in bags and blown in place to the desired depth and density using special machinery you can rent from a home center. R 38 is the industry standard and the minimum thickness for r 38 is 12 inches. For loose fill cellulose this translates to a total depth ranging from 8 inches. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Measure the area needing insulation. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home. This calculator is to be used as an estimating tool only. Click the button to calculate the approximate r value for this job.

If your current insulation is only 5 inches deep you ll need to add seven inches of insulation to achieve the 12 inch r 38 rating. Contractor grade 30 lb. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Now that you ve air sealed your attic and basement check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary.

Measure the depth of your current insulation. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. 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. 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.

Bag of all borate contractor grade 30 lb. You can pour the fill in place and spread it manually but the process is much more labor intensive and the results won t be nearly as good. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. 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.

It works best for. In temperate coastal areas such as zone 3 attic insulation of at least r30 up to a maximum of r60 is recommended. Bag of all borate insulation is ideal for professional contractors that offer blow in attic sidewall and floor applications. Shop insulation accessories.

Input depth of existing blown in insulation in inches. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value.