How Much Attic Insulation Is Enough

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.
How much attic insulation is enough. Having enough insulation in your attic is one of the best ways to save energy on both heating and cooling your home. See more on different types of insulation. You can do it yourself for about 500. The higher the r value the better the.
The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. According to home advisor insulating your attic can cost between 1700 to 2100. Square footage of your attic. One for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation.
Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly. How much does attic insulation cost. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 30 inches of insulation makes sense nowhere. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Support our advertisers for example those in the southernmost part of the us attics should have from r30 to r60 average is r38.
To see how to add insulation out to the eaves see installing rafter vents. These recommendations are for true r values not the nominal values listed on insulation packaging. 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. 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.
To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation. How much should i add. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. Even yoda won t live long enough to get a return on investment for that much insulation so it s pretty much pointless.
Insulation levels are specified by r value. How well a particular insulation works is expressed by the r value which ranges from 2 0 to 8 0 per inch of insulation. Type and material of your insulation. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 5 inches of insulation makes sense in most climates.
To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days. Insulation level are specified by r value. The higher the r value the better job the insulation does at preventing the transfer of heat. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly you probably have enough.
R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.