How Much Attic Insulation Is Enough

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.

How much attic insulation is enough.

Support our advertisers for example those in the southernmost part of the us attics should have from r30 to r60 average is r38. Type and material of your insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value. 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.

One for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation. The higher the r value the better job the insulation does at preventing the transfer of heat. Having enough insulation in your attic is one of the best ways to save energy on both heating and cooling your home. The main factors that impact the cost are.

You can do it yourself for about 500. To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft.

Square footage of your attic. For example if you install r 19 fiberglass batts in 2x6 frame walls with the studs 16 inches on center double top plates and other elements of standard framing the actual r value of the whole wall with the r 19 insulation will be about r 15. How much does attic insulation cost. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly you probably have enough.

Insulation levels are specified by r value. Even yoda won t live long enough to get a return on investment for that much insulation so it s pretty much pointless. To see how to add insulation out to the eaves see installing rafter vents. Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. According to home advisor insulating your attic can cost between 1700 to 2100. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 5 inches of insulation makes sense in most climates. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

How much should i add. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 30 inches of insulation makes sense nowhere. Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. How well a particular insulation works is expressed by the r value which ranges from 2 0 to 8 0 per inch of insulation.

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. Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. Contractor or insulation installer s fee.

These recommendations are for true r values not the nominal values listed on insulation packaging.