Which insulation is best for attic?

Many people consider fiberglass batt to be the best attic insulation. It consists of plastic reinforced by small glass fibers. The batt version comes in blanket form — i.e., small, pre-cut sections that you can lay down wherever you need to.

What type of insulation is best for your attic?

Fiberglass, cotton, and mineral wool can all work as loose-fill material, but the far and away top choice for blown-in insulation is fiberglass. Contrary to batts insulation, blown-in fiberglass insulation is perfect for filling in tight voids around wiring, pipes, or any area with awkward framing.

What is the safest insulation for an attic?

What R-value do I need for attic?

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. 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.

Is R30 insulation good for attic?

The average recommended level is 14 inches of R49. In Zone 2, the average minimum requirement for attic insulation is 9 inches of R30 fill. The average recommended level is 17 inches of R60. In Zone 3, the average minimum requirement for attic insulation is 9 inches of R30 fill.

Reclaiming Attic Storage Space Over Thick Insulation!

Which is better R19 or R30 insulation?

The bigger the R value, the better the insulation is at slowing down the heat transfer. So R19 is better insulation than R13, and R30 is better than R19. The larger the R value, the better the insulation value.

Can you put too much insulation in an attic?

It's possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.

Is R19 good for attic?

Most homes only have R19 in attics. To give you an idea that's only 5 1/2 inches of insulation. That's ok for your walls. But remember heat rises right.

What is r15 insulation used for?

R-15 EcoTouch® insulation is intended to be friction-fit between exterior wall wood studs. Standard R-11 batts require the use of thick foam sheathing to achieve the recommended R-19 thermal performance.

What is r10 insulation used for?

OVERVIEW. For use as general purpose insulation for roofing, wall and foundation applications.

What are the disadvantages of foam insulation?

Should I remove old attic insulation before adding new?

Expert contractors that specialize in insulation advise that removing old fiberglass insulation is best before installing new cellulose insulation because of possible mildew, mold, or rodent excrement.

Which type of insulation is most effective?

Spray foam insulation is the most energy-efficient insulation to create an air barrier in the attic. Certain spray foams can expand up to 100 times its original size, so it fills all of the nooks and crannies in the attic.

Which is better attic insulation blown or rolled?

Rolled fiberglass insulation scores an R-value of 3.7. So overall, rolled fiberglass insulation is slightly more effective at blocking in and out heat than its blown counterpart.

Is foam insulation good for attics?

Closed cell is hard and sealed tight, not allowing moisture to get through.” Closed-cell spray foam is a better choice for keeping subfloor moisture at optimal levels, while open-cell spray foam is a better choice for walls and attics, because it allows homes to “breathe.”

Which is better R13 or R15?

The R15 insulation material performs better in spaces that receive high amounts of sunlight than R13 insulation materials. Its heat resistance is sufficient to insulate attics, but you can only use it to insulate roofs if you create a multi-layer structure.

Is R1 5 insulation enough?

In cooler climates a higher R-value is generally recommend, even if your energy report requires a minimum of R1. 5 wall insulation. If you are recladding or replastering your home during renovations, you should consider installing acoustic insulation in your walls.

What is the difference between r11 and R15 insulation?

R-11 has about 73 percent of the insulative efficiency of R-15 when comparing two of the materials. This doesn't mean that one house insulated with R-11 will have 73 percent less insulative properties than a house insulated with R-15. The houses may be very different.

How thick should my attic insulation be?

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

How thick is R30 insulation?

Typical R-30 fiberglass insulation is 10-inches-thick. Prior to buying fiberglass insulation, it is important to measure the joint spacing you are working with.

How effective is r19 insulation?

Although the U.S. Department of Energy rates R-13 insulation as "good" for use in walls in southern areas of the country, it rates R-19 insulation higher, designating it as "great." That is because R-19 insulation provides more thermal insulation than R-13 does.

What insulation has the highest R-value?

Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.

Does attic insulation make a big difference?

One of the places in your home where a little bit of attention can make a big difference in your comfort — and heating bill — is the attic. According to the Department of Energy, properly insulating the attic can save 10 to 50 percent on a typical heating bill.

Can you lay insulation on top of old insulation?

Yes! You can absolutely new insulation over old insulation… as long as it isn't wet. Energy Star advises as follows: “If it… appears that the insulation [is wet or] has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem to prevent a reoccurrence.