Determine Need For Attic Insulation

In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60.

Determine need for attic insulation.

If you can t see the joists because the insulation is above them then you should measure the insulation depth with a ruler to see if you have enough. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49. Common signs of problems with insulation. Inspecting your attic insulation will help you determine your insulation needs.

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. Insulation levels are specified by r value. Use unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has some insulation laying the rolls or batts at right angles to the floor joists. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. According to the u s. Department of energy it s recommended that attics have an r 38 to r 49 or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow.

Input length and width of area to be insulated. However there are a few easy things you can do to see if your attic is properly insulated. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. To view the next video in this series click here.

A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your attic floor. Let s say the insulation you ve selected has an r value of three per inch and. Click the button to calculate the amount of insulation in square feet and man hours wall and ceiling fiberglass insulation needed for this job. This calculator is to be used as an estimating tool only.

If your insulation level is at or below the top of the floor joists you probably need to add more insulation but remember to seal the air leaks before you insulate. If you notice one or more of these occurring you probably need to take action. Loose fill insulation fibers are packaged in bags and blown in place to the desired depth and density using special. Choose your insulation type and material 1.