How Much Attic Insulation Should I Have

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

How much attic insulation should i have.

The cost to insulate an attic starts at 1 68 3 25 per square foot but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. Blown in insulation is the least expensive option and ideal for older attics. 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. For loose fill read labels.

Where do you live. Spray foam while the most expensive is best for noise reduction and new construction. 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. To prevent heat loss the attic space should be well insulated.

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. 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. Add insulation to attic. But how much insulation is enough for the attic.

Get fair costs for your specific project requirements. However the real answer is a bit more complex. 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. 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.

There are two factors to consider when planning to insulate your attic. See professionally prepared estimates for attic insulation work. When you can see the joists you definitely need more insulation. 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.

For batts or rolls calculate the number based on the width and length of the product you re using. 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. 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.

Twelve inches is often plenty when one or more of these situations is true you re going to need more insulation. For homes in the boise idaho area the insulation r value climate zone is 5. Measure your attic s square footage. Existing 3 4 inches of insulation.

Learn more about insulation r values.