How Much Attic Insulation Is Enough

To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation.

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. How much should i add. The pros charge 1 500 to 2 000 to do a 1 200 sq ft. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

To make insulating an attic easier grab a helper and set aside two days. You can do it yourself for about 500. One for attic prep and the second to actually blow the insulation. Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly.

To see how to add insulation out to the eaves see installing rafter vents. 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. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Type and material of your 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. How much does attic insulation cost.

Having enough insulation in your attic is one of the best ways to save energy on both heating and cooling your home. Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. See more on different types of insulation.

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. Even yoda won t live long enough to get a return on investment for that much insulation so it s pretty much pointless. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has 30 inches of insulation makes sense nowhere. These recommendations are for true r values not the nominal values listed on insulation packaging.

How well a particular insulation works is expressed by the r value which ranges from 2 0 to 8 0 per inch of insulation. If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly you probably have enough. The main factors that impact the cost are. Insulation levels are specified by r value.

Blowing attic insulation isn t hard but it s dusty sweaty work. 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. The higher the r value the better the. Square footage of your attic.

Insulation level are specified by r value.