Foam Insulation R Value

Recommended home insulation r values.

Foam insulation r value.

There are three basic foam insulation board products on the. When calculating the r value of a multilayered installation add the r values of the individual layers. The r value of some insulations also depends on temperature aging and moisture accumulation. Insulation level are specified by r value.

Because of this i often get questions about which type of foam board insulation to use and what r values these products provide. Rigid foam insulation also known as insulating boards provide high r values. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The higher the density of the foam the higher the r value per inch.

Install it anywhere from the roof to the foundation. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. They keep your home at a comfortable temperature without the need to crank your heat. Icynene sprayed in foam is an insulation and air seal system that works to help ensure that your home doesn t suffer from air loss while providing an effective r value.

R value is an important insulation term about measurement. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. The r value of spray foam insulation is approximately 6 per inch so those using spray foam as their insulator will need about 6 3 inches of thickness to reach r 38. For example if you have a type of insulation that has an r value of r 5 per inch of thickness you will need a depth of 6 inches of this insulation installed in your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3.

In comparison an inch of blown fiberglass insulation has an r value of 3 1 3 4 and. Spray foam insulation r value. R value is a measurement of thermal resistance and measures the ability of heat to transfer from one side of an object to another. R value is the only measurement used in building codes today however it is not the only way to stop energy loss.

Foam board insulation types. I ve written several posts about how to insulation basement walls in which i promote the use of foam board insulation as the first line of defense against moisture and mold. It measures the effectiveness at stopping energy loss by way of conduction one of the 3 forms of energy transfer. By expanding 100 times its original size icynene seals cracks and gaps in attics walls ceilings and other spaces where air might escape.

The r value of fiberglass insulation is approximately 2 2 per inch so much thicker fiberglass insulation is required to achieve the same r value of 38. Compared to how traditional insulation performs over time commercial spray foam insulation has a far superior r value. Closed cell open cell spray foam r values. You can even place it under the foundation slab.

Installing more insulation in your home increases the r value and the resistance to heat flow. The common denominator among varieties of insulation is the r value. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.