How Thick Should Insulation Be In My Attic

It is not uncommon to see 15 to 20 of insulation in a well insulated attic.

How thick should insulation be in my attic. 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. Improve your home s comfort with one hour air. Build it up to at least 12 inches for optimum insulating power. They range from around 1 to 3 inches in thickness and can be used in multiple applications ranging from walls to attics.

For loose fill cellulose this translates to a total depth ranging from 8 inches. Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings. The thicker the better. The most common form that insulation comes in is a batt or blanket these are large rolls of insulation that are easy to cut into usable shapes.

This flexible insulation material is most often packaged in rolls that come in various thicknesses and standard widths usually 16 inches and 24 inches to fit between joists or studs in a house s framing. The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. If you only have a few inches of insulation in your attic you are likely wasting money on your energy bills.

Add the right kind of insulation when adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. Inspecting your attic insulation. A good rule of thumb for insulating your attic is to make sure it is at least as tall as your ceiling joists. They come with or without a paper or foil facing that acts as a vapor barrier.

First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. This is compared to having to stack fiberglass as high as 14 16 inches to get the same results. 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. In temperate coastal areas such as zone 3 attic insulation of at least r30 up to a maximum of r60 is recommended.

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