Florida Attic Insulation R Value
Insulation levels are measured by r value.
Florida attic insulation r value. Energystar recommends an r value of r 38 for most homes. The higher the r value the better it insulates. You will need a higher r value of insulation if you live in the northeast than if you live in southern california. Where you live different climates require different insulation r values.
Recommended home insulation r values. The transfer of heat by contact with solid objects such as the ceiling walls or floor is called conduction see figure 1. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. First check the insulation in your attic ceilings exterior and basement walls floors and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
For block walls interior insulation must meet or exceed r 7 8 and exterior insulation must be r 6. Your home s age if your home is more than 10 year old you likely need more insulation. Each state does have their own minimum insulation requirements which are often lower than the levels recommended by the department of energy. All r values are insulation only tested labeled per ftc rule16 cfr 460.
Insulation level are specified by r value. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Therefore a three inch thick board has an r value of 3. Insulation is measured in r values the higher the r value the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. Ceiling insulation must be much higher at r 30 and a raised floor must be at least r 13. The r value your home s attic needs depends on where you live.
Achieving greater r values in exterior walls. Blown fiberglass installed in the attic has an r value of 2 2 per inch so 12 inches of it would give you an r value of 26 4 in your attic installation project. Most computer programs allow the user to calculate gross wall areas and subtract window and door areas. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.
R value is how well insulation can resist heat flow. Let s start at a base point. That translates to about 12 inches of insulation. This zone has a recommended r value of 30 to 60 for an uninsulated attic r25 to r38 for an attic with existing insulation and r13 to r19 for the floor.
There are many ways to retrofit a home with fiberglass and. Insulating power or r value is only one factor to consider when building or improving a home to keep it comfortable. A good thermal barrier along a building envelope such as high r value insulation in the walls attic and raised floors as well as multi paned glass help to reduce conduction. An r value is also calculated per inch of width.