How Thick Should Insulation Be In My Attic

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

How thick should insulation be in my attic. A good rule of thumb for insulating your attic is to make sure it is at least as tall as your ceiling joists. The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick. 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. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

The most common form that insulation comes in is a batt or blanket these are large rolls of insulation that are easy to cut into usable shapes. Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings. In temperate coastal areas such as zone 3 attic insulation of at least r30 up to a maximum of r60 is recommended. They range from around 1 to 3 inches in thickness and can be used in multiple applications ranging from walls to attics.

Improve your home s comfort with one hour air. Add the right kind of insulation when adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. The thicker the better. 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.

So if the ideal r value for your home is r 40 your contractor may only need to spray five inches of foam insulation. This flexible insulation material is most often packaged in rolls that come in various thicknesses and standard widths usually 16 inches and 24 inches to fit between joists or studs in a house s framing. For loose fill cellulose this translates to a total depth ranging from 8 inches. If you only have a few inches of insulation in your attic you are likely wasting money on your energy bills.

Build it up to at least 12 inches for optimum insulating power. It is not uncommon to see 15 to 20 of insulation in a well insulated attic. This is compared to having to stack fiberglass as high as 14 16 inches to get the same results. Inspecting your attic insulation.

They come with or without a paper or foil facing that acts as a vapor barrier. Add insulation to attic.