Recommended R Value For Attic In Florida

The r value your home s attic needs depends on where you live.

Recommended r value for attic in florida.

R values of framing members concrete blocks gypsum board etc. Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings. If your attic has enough insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. Insulation requirements in florida residential requirements for insulation are divided by the location in the home.

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. When determining how much insulation you need don t guesstimate calculate. Therefore a three inch thick board has an r value of 3. An r value is also calculated per inch of width.

Add insulation to attic. Walls are entered by the type of assembly and the r value of insulation. R value measures how well certain building insulation materials can resist heat. You can see on home depot s website how many inches translates to a certain r value.

Solid wood has an r value of 1. Broward collier hendry lee miami dade monroe and palm beach and require a minimum r 30 attic insulation. Now that you have an idea of the depth you need you need to measure the width and length of your attic. See the department of energy s doe ranges for recommended levels of insulation below.

The florida building code identifies two distinct climate zones. Existing 3 4 inches of insulation. For block walls interior insulation must meet or exceed r 7 8 and exterior insulation must be r 6. This zone has a recommended r value of 30 to 60 for an uninsulated attic r25 to r38 for an attic with existing insulation and r13 to r19 for the floor.

Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators. That translates to about 12 inches of insulation. All r values are insulation only tested labeled per ftc rule16 cfr 460. Homes should have between r 22 and r 49 insulation in the attic.

Energystar recommends an r value of r 38 for most homes. Typically current best home building practices indicate an r 30 to r 38 for attic insulation. Framed wall insulation must meet or exceed r 13. Blown fiberglass installed in the attic has an r value of 2 2 per inch so 12 inches of it would give you an r value of 26 4 in your attic installation project.

Most computer programs allow the user to calculate gross wall areas and subtract window and door areas. Energy star s map of recommended home insulation shows that the majority of florida is within zone 2.