How Much Attic Insulation Should I Have

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.

How much attic insulation should i have.

But how much insulation is enough for the attic. The short answer is as much as you can get and a good rule of thumb is to have a r value of 38 in your attic. Learn more about insulation r values. Most homes will keep fairly cool with just six to eight inches of insulation but over time insulation settles so having a little extra doesn t hurt.

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type. Fiberglass and cellulose insulation have r values of 2 9 to 3 8 per inch while sprayed foam insulation can go as high as 8 0 per inch. It can cost anywhere from 1 700 to 2 100 or between 1 50 and 3 50 per foot to insulate an attic depending on what insulation material you choose. See professionally prepared estimates for attic insulation work.

Existing 3 4 inches of insulation. Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings. Twelve inches is often plenty when one or more of these situations is true you re going to need more insulation. Each bag lists the required depths for a range of r values and the number of bags needed to cover 1 000 square feet at those depths.

If your insulation doesn t measure up and you need more installation can be done as a weekend diy project or you can call a professional installer to handle the job. For loose fill read labels. If you look at the chart above you can see that the attic should achieve an r value between r38 and r60 depending on the current insulation levels. The cost to insulate an attic starts at 1 68 3 25 per square foot but can vary significantly with site conditions and options.

Where do you live. According to the u s. Department of energy it s recommended that attics have an r 38 to r 49 or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation. Spray foam while the most expensive is best for noise reduction and new construction.

When you can see the joists you definitely need more insulation. For batts or rolls calculate the number based on the width and length of the product you re using. To prevent heat loss the attic space should be well insulated. However the real answer is a bit more complex.

Get fair costs for your specific project requirements. Blown in insulation is the least expensive option and ideal for older attics. 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. For homes in the boise idaho area the insulation r value climate zone is 5.

Measure your attic s square footage.