Recommended Exterior Wall Insulation R Value
Your attic requires the most insulation up to r 60 is recommended in all but the warmest climates.
Recommended exterior wall insulation r value. Walls require a combination of wall cavity insulation such as batts and insulating sheathing or rigid foam boards. The r value of insulation indicates how well it resists heat and according to home depot the higher the r value the greater the insulation performance what is the ideal r value for exterior walls. See the department of energy s doe ranges for recommended levels of insulation below. The r value is a calculation which measures the flow of heat through an insulation product or its.
If the walls and ceiling are closed in consider using loose fill insulation as this form of insulation uses a machine to get the insulation where it needs to go through a hole in the sheetrock. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the 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. Foam board insulation is easy to install between wall studs and over existing blanket insulation.
Insulation is rated in two ways r value and u value. The r refers to absolute thermal resistance. Achieving greater r values in exterior walls. Here s a look at the best exterior wall insulation options.
That indicates which value is best for each region. How to achieve r 21 in a 2x4 wall. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. R value is a standard unit of measurement for determining among many things how effective your insulation will be.
The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Insulate the garage s ceiling by using the recommended r value for your area as advised by the department of energy s oak ridge laboratory. Home depot provides a map of the u s. You also benefit from insulating exterior walls to a level of r 13 to r 21.
Higher r value numbers mean that the insulating material resists the cold or heat from the outside better. Basics of faced fiberglass insulation from r 13 to r 19. To meet this recommendation most homes and additions constructed with 2 in. For new construction or home additions r 11 to r 28 insulation is recommended for exterior walls depending on location see map below.
The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation.