Attic Insulation Requirements
Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings.
Attic insulation requirements. According to the u s. Ventilation openings having a least dimension larger than 1 4 inch 6 4 mm shall be provided with corrosion resistant wire cloth screening hardware cloth perforated vinyl or similar material with openings having a least dimension of 1 16 inch 1 6 mm minimum and 1 4 inch 6 4 mm maximum. R 38 shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement for r 49 wherever the full height of uncompressed r 38 insulation extends over the wall top plate at the eaves. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Add the right kind of insulation when adding additional insulation you do not have to use the same type of insulation that currently exists in your attic. Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live. Department of energy it s recommended that attics have an r 38 to r 49 or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation. Existing 3 4 inches of insulation.
However there is an exception. Use unfaced insulation when adding more insulation to an attic that already has some insulation laying the rolls or batts at right angles to the floor joists. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.
Add loose fill insulation to your attic or foil faced batt insulation to your cathedral ceiling. For added energy control and sound deadening. Include insulation in the outer walls of the home. The 2015 irc requires r 49 insulation for ceilings with attic spaces.
If your insulation doesn t measure up and you need more installation can be done as a weekend diy project or you can call a professional installer to handle the job.