Wall Insulation R Values

The insulation industry has done a really good job at presenting and supporting the importance of r value but this is only one part of energy efficiency.

Wall insulation r values.

For instance if you have a material with an r value of 12 attached to another material with an r value of 3 then both materials combined have an r value of 15. Try the r value calculator available through oak ridge. Achieving greater r values in attics. Insulation level are specified by r value.

Additional r value for a masonry wall constructed using these materials needs to add the insulating value of additional wall components typically included such as 1 solid foam polyisocyanurate r 8 extruded polystyrene r 5 expanded polystyrene r 4 or 1 of perlite r 2 7 and for an exterior air film winter no wind r 0 17 an interior. The ideal attic insulation r value is different than the ideal wall insulation r value. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The down r value.

Insulation ratings can be improved by adding more layers of insulation. You can mix the type and material of insulation too. Recommended home insulation r values. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and.

Along with knowing the r value of a particular insulation it is also important to calculate the r value of a total system. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Within the r value of insulation there are three kinds of r values that are commonly used to more specifically measure heat flow resistance variables. For example a wall with 3 fiberglass batting r value of 10 8 11 9 may have an overall r value of nearly 14 because of siding sheathing and drywall.

In simple terms r values measure the effectiveness of insulation and a higher number represents more effective insulation. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are r 13 to r 23 while r 30 r 38 and r 49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces. Fiberglass batts for standard 2 4 walls are now available in low medium and high density products that range from r 11 to r 15. While wall insulation is limited by the width of the studs different materials provide higher or lower r values.

R value measures capacity of an insulation material to resist heat flow from one side of a wall to another. Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different r value.