Recommend Insulation R-Values for California Homes
When it comes to energy efficiency, nobody’s home is a perfect 10 out of 10. There are always solutions for improving this and making your home more energy-efficient and comfortable all year long. One of the best solutions is installing insulation.
As you’re getting ready to insulate your home, one of your first questions will most likely be, “How much insulation do I need?” The amount of insulation your home needs primarily depends on two factors:
The region you live in
The area of your home that needs to be insulated
The Right Amount of Insulation for Your Home in the Sacramento, CA Area
Insulation R-Value
R-value is an important part of insulation—it is an indication of a particular material’s resistance to conductive heat flow. In general, the higher the R-value (thermal resistance), the greater the insulation’s effectiveness. The R-value depends on the insulation’s type/material, thickness and density. Although a higher R-value in general means a more effective insulator, the highest R-value possible may not necessarily be right for your project. One example of this is if the space you’re insulating already has existing levels of insulation. Also, houses in certain climates don’t need as much insulation as others. For example, homeowners in Alaska don’t need to worry about insulating against extremely warm temperatures—the weather is quite different in California. That’s why different regions of the United States have different recommended insulation levels. Here in the Sacramento area, we are in zone 3.
How Is Insulation R-Value Calculated?
Let’s start at a base point: Solid wood has an R-value of 1. An R-value is also calculated per inch of width. Therefore, a three-inch-thick board has an R-value of 3. 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.
Choosing Insulation for Your Project
The R-value shouldn’t be the only determining factor when you choose insulation. How old your home is, its location and building materials can all play a part in choosing the right insulation. The Sacramento, California area is Zone 3. In wood-framed homes—for both new construction and retrofit projects—the insulation R-values are as follows:
Contact Gold Star Insulation in Sacramento today—call (916) 229-8445 or contact us online to learn more!
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