When it comes to attic insulation, you’ve probably heard about R-value and what it does. If not, here’s a brief explanation:
“An insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R–value — the higher the R–value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. Installing more insulation in your home increases the R–value and the resistance to heat flow.”
That’s great information but how do you know the right amount to use in your home? You need to remember that R-value is additive. If you have exterior siding or 2×6’s in your home, your R-value will be higher than a home without exterior siding and with 2×4’s. This is why finding the best attic insulation contractor is so important.
All Homes in the Continental US Need Insulation
Scouring the Internet, you will see many people say that you need insulation primarily to insulate your home from the cold. This is only one piece of the puzzle. Insulation hastens heat transfer, but it does more than keep cold air out. If it didn’t do more than this, most homes in Arizona wouldn’t need it, but the truth is that all homes need insulation because it helps to protect the home from the elements, it keeps the home comfortable, and it promotes good indoor air quality when used in conjunction with other appropriate materials. Consider this: warm air travels to colder air. This means that your home will continually fluctuate in temperature in connection with outdoor air temperatures. In the winter, warm air in the house will leach outside. In the summer, hot air comes into the house.
Your R-Value Amount
Homes in different climates need different R-values. It is a fallacy that you don’t need a high R-value if you live in a warm climate. In Arizona, the amount of roof insulation your house should have is around R38. Insulation will save you a lot of money on utilities throughout the year. You want insulation surrounding your living areas and good ventilation in your attic. This will help to drastically reduce heat in your home during the warmer months.
You want your home to remain comfortable at all times. That’s not going to happen if your insulation is insufficient. Your house is a system in the same way your roof is a system. To have energy efficiency, you need the right materials in your home.
Insulation Considerations
You have a selection of materials and methods to install your home insulation. Existing 3-inch batts of paper-backed fiberglass provide an R-value of roughly 10-and-a-half and an additional 3.1 to 3.4 per inch. To get the right amount you need following this route, you’ll need approximately 15 inches of this. If you choose blown-in fiberglass insulation, you’ll need approximately 12 inches, but again, this depends on your existing material of insulation and R-value. You don’t have to create an airtight home because you also have to consider excessive moisture in your home and air ventilation. That’s why it’s important to see your home as a system and refer to professionals to ensure that one part of your home won’t undermine another part of your home.
Insulation Materials
Some types of roof insulation are flame retardant while others are flame resistant. You may prefer these options, but keep in mind that if anything gets hot enough, it will burn. Materials that are either flame retardant and resistant cannot guarantee that your home won’t catch on fire, but it makes it less likely, which can save damage to your home, injuries and fatalities. Owen’s Corning Blown-in insulation is particularly efficient as it’s economical and quick to install. It is the type of insulation we use for insulation projects.
The longer you wait on your roof insulation, the higher your energy costs will be. We’d like to save you money! At JBS Roofing, we will help you to make an informed decision on the right material and R-value of insulation according to your home’s individual needs. Contact us or give us a call at (623) 247-9252.
