Standard Exterior Wall Insulation R Value

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and.

Standard exterior wall insulation r value.

These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. In order to achieve the higher insulation r value of r 21 a different type of. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. For instance if you have a material with an r value of 12 attached to another material with an r value of 3 then both materials combined have an r value of 15.

R value is a standard unit of measurement for determining among many things how effective your insulation will be. Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different r value. Insulation level are specified by r value. In simple terms r values measure the effectiveness of insulation and a higher number represents more effective insulation.

Standard fiberglass batts have r values ranging from r 2 9 to r 3 8 for every inch of thickness but high density insulation batts can have r values as high as r 4 3 per inch. Higher r value numbers mean that the insulating material resists the cold or heat from the outside better. Insulation rolls rolled insulation is another type of insulation blanket similar to batt insulation. Recommended home insulation r values.

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. The r refers to absolute thermal resistance. Fiberglass vats are the standard insulator for 2 inch by 4 inch wall framing and are rated r 11 through r 15. Fiberglass batts for standard 2 4 walls are now available in low medium and high density products that range from r 11 to r 15.

Along with knowing the r value of a particular insulation it is also important to calculate the r value of a total system. Thickness density and type of materials are some factors that contribute to. For example a wall with 3 fiberglass batting r value of 10 8 11 9 may have an overall r value of nearly 14 because of siding sheathing and drywall. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Because insulation fits the width and depth of the cavity between studs when you compress insulation to fit the space you remove its. While wall insulation is limited by the width of the studs different materials provide higher or lower r values. If your exterior walls are constructed from 2 by 4 inch studs the most insulation that can go into the wall while retaining its r value is r 13 or r 15 as these are both made to fit a cavity 3 1 2 inches deep.