Attic Insulation Hot Climates

Loose fill fiberglass is also a great solution because it s lightweight.

Attic insulation hot climates. In hot climates the primary purpose of attic or roof ventilation is to expel solar heated hot air from the attic to lessen the building cooling load. The amount of cooling provided by a well ventilated roof exposed to the sun is very small. A large portion of the west coast mostly in california has the advantage of moderate climates and little rainfall. Best insulation for hot climates 1.

Building codes vary among the thousands of jurisdictions but a typical requirement in hot climates is r 38. Common practice in some areas still has it pegged at r 19. And yet for example our fresno calif franchise abc cooling routinely insulates attics from r 50 to r 60 in home retrofits. Some regions don t require a vapor barrier.

Un insulated attic spaces in hot humid climates easily reach 140 and higher so if you have an air conditioning duct with minimal insulation running through the hot attic you can imagine how much of the cooling is lost before it even gets to your rooms. In hot climates the primary purpose of attic ventilation is to expel solar heated hot air from the attic to lessen the building cooling load. There are only two places you should be spending the bulk of your insulation dollars in a hot climate. The most important factor to consider in a warmer climate is the addition of a radiant barrier to whichever type of insulation you select.

Tenwolde and carll 1992 also observed that during summer attic vents provide some cooling but with sufficient ceiling insulation the effect on cooling loads should be minor. Thus a good thermal insulation is a must to protect your building and enhance your living comforts. Conductive losses also occur directly through insulation or where insulation is missing or thin. Offering a clear range of air bubble thermal insulation products an extraordinary air bubble sheet which is developed with supervision and quality.

Whether using loose fill or batts put the vapor barrier closest to the warm side of your installation where hot moist air would get in facing the house s interior in cold climates beneath floor insulation and the attic s interior in hot climates on top of floor insulation. Radiant barrier is a foil that is placed between the attic floor and the insulation. Picking these two low hanging fruits first will yield big results with the least investment so let s start there. A radiant barrier is a material used in conjunction with attic insulation to reflect radiant heat at the surface and increase the efficiency of attic insulation.

Standard fiberglass batts and blankets are the best attic insulation because they effectively slow the spread of heat and cold. Radiant barrier is a great option for hot climates as it doesn t try to slow the heat from passing.