How Thick Should Insulation Be In Your Attic

Existing 3 4 inches of insulation.

How thick should insulation be in your attic. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. Department of energy recommends r 49 attic insulation. These insulation levels will keep heated air from migrating out in winter. If your attic insulation is only a few inches thick or if you can see the ceiling joists you re wasting money on your heating and cooling bills.

Inspecting your attic insulation. In a cooling climate a good blanket of attic insulation helps keep the house cooler and reduces the load on air conditioning equipment. It is not uncommon to see 15 to 20 of insulation in a well insulated attic. The thicker the better.

These are large rolls of insulation that are easy to cut into usable shapes. Add insulation to attic. Batt spray and blown. The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick.

Attic insulation is measured by an r value which indicates how insulation controls the flow of heat and cold through your home. They come with or without a paper or foil facing that acts as a vapor barrier. The most common form that insulation comes in is a batt or blanket. In the baltimore area the u s.

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. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Typical fiberglass batt insulation has an r value between 2 9 and 3 8 per inch of thickness. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

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. Different types of insulation take up different amounts of space to insulate effectively. Typically houses in warm weather states should have an r 38 insulation in the attic whereas houses in cold climates should have r 49. Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings.

They range from around 1 to 3 inches in thickness and can be used in multiple applications ranging from walls to attics. However building codes only require an r 38.