Recommended R Value For Attic Insulation Canada

First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation.

Recommended r value for attic insulation canada.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. You will need a higher r value of insulation if you live in the north than if you live closer to the us border. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. Along with knowing the r value of a particular insulation it is also important to calculate the r value of a total system.

R value measures how well certain building insulation materials can resist heat. Where you live different climates require different insulation r values. The amount of insulation recommended for your home will vary depending on a number of factors. In comparison an inch of blown fiberglass insulation has an r value of 3 1 3 4 and an inch of blown cellulose in an attic has an r value of 3 2 3 7.

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. Recommended r value for attic insulation canada the recommended r value for insulation of attics in canada depends on the area as it is a value that changes a lot from area to area. Foam plastic insulation on the interior of the building envelope must adhere to the requirements of protection of foamed plastics as per 9 10 17 10 of the national building code of canada. The province the city and the area greatly influence the difference in r value for the insulation of an attic.

Inspecting your attic insulation. Insulation level are specified by r value. After installing insulation in the existing cavities nail or screw strapping 2 x 2 or 2 x 3 on edge perpendicular to the rafters and studs. In such cases where r value is assigned this may decrease the r value requirement for batt insulation.

Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators. As a benchmark one inch of solid wood has an r value of 1. See the department of energy s doe ranges for recommended levels of insulation below. If your attic is not too cramped consider adding strapping onto the rafter bottoms and wall studs to allow for more insulation up to the recommended minimum level for attic insulation if possible.

The higher the r value the greater the insulation performance. 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.