R49 Vs. R60 Attic Insulation: What Homeowners Need to Know

R49 Vs. R60 Attic Insulation: What's Best for Your Kansas City Home?

Winter is fast approaching. If the energy costs on your monthly utility bills are increasing while the temperature on the thermometer decreases, it's time to look for ways to make your house more energy efficient—and your attic is the first place you should check. You likely already have some insulation up there, but is it enough? When it comes to R49 vs. R60 attic insulation, what's really best for our climate? And what exactly are R-values in the first place?

The Overland Park insulation experts at Koala Insulation of South Kansas City have the answers to those burning questions, along with some knowledgeable advice on what homeowners should know about the topic of R49 vs. R60 attic insulation.

What are R-Values for Attic Insulation?

In essence, R-values for insulation are measurements of the performance and effective thermal resistance of insulating materials. In other words, the R-value of any given insulation installation indicates how well it is able to resist heat transfer. The higher the R-value number is, the more capable that material is at preventing the transfer of heat, because the number is expressed per inch of thickness and influenced by a range of considerations such as the type of material, how dense it is and how thickly it is applied, among other factors. That's why it's important to know what R-value actually is when pondering the conundrum of R49 vs. R60 attic insulation.

An R-value is a representation of how much thermal resistance the insulating material has per inch of depth, rather than being an overall value for any amount of insulation of that type. That's important to understand, because it means insulation with a lower R-value can provide the same level of thermal energy resistance as an insulation material with a higher R-value as long as it is layered to a greater thickness. An example of this is that two inches of R20 insulating material will provide the same amount of resistance to heat loss as one inch of R40 insulation. The basic formula is that R-value is equal to 1 / k-value. K-value is a measure of the ability of heat to be transferred through the insulating material, or thermal conductivity. 

R49 Vs. R60 Attic Insulation—Which Level of Attic Insulation Do Overland Park Homes Need?

You've probably heard some R-value numbers being thrown around in relation to attic insulation. In Overland Park and the greater Kansas City area, those numbers are likely to include R49 and R60. But which is the right number for your attic insulation? When it comes to the question of R49 vs. R60 attic insulation, homeowners should know that Energy Star provides recommended home insulation R-values to serve as basic guidelines. The Energy Star is jointly run by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Agency, and they divide the United States into zones based on climate. 

The Kansas City metro area sits right on the border between Zone 4 and Zone 5. That means the recommended attic insulation R-value for our homes is somewhere between R38 and R60. However, because we are partially in Zone 5 and, as we all know, winters can get pretty chilly when a cold snap rolls in, we consider Zone 5's R49 to R60 to be the best recommendation to ensure indoor comfort and energy efficiency. And, when it comes to the question of R49 vs. R60, there's no doubt that R60 will make your house more energy efficient, which in turn saves you significant amounts of energy, lowering your energy bills and making your home more comfortable during the cold months.

Call Koala Insulation to Increase Your Attic Insulation to R60

You probably (hopefully) already have some attic insulation in place, but even if it was originally at R60, it likely isn't that effective anymore. Insulation can lose R-value over time because it compresses and loses the insulating air pockets that prevent heat transfer. If your existing insulation is in pretty good shape and has not gotten wet or been contaminated by vermin droppings, there's actually no need to remove it—the experienced insulation experts at Koala Insulation of South Kansas City can get your attic up to an effective R60 level with energy retrofitting, by adding additional material so you don't have to worry about R49 vs. R60 attic insulation anymore.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Attic Insulation?

Yes and no. Having more attic insulation than you need isn't going to hurt your property, but it's also not really going to help it. Insulating materials do, of course, cost money, and after the maximum recommended R-value for our climate is reached, there are diminishing returns for energy efficiency. So, paying for more insulation than you need is just going to cost you the upfront purchase price without really offering a solid return on investment in the form of lowered energy costs. That's not a concern when it comes to the question of R49 vs. R60 attic insulation, because in our climate, R60 will provide the energy efficiency and energy savings to make the upfront cost of installation well worth it.

That being said, there is one way you could have too much attic insulation. Your attic space needs proper ventilation to rid itself of excess heat and humidity that rises to the top of the building. If soffit vents or even ridge attic vents are blocked off by excessive insulation, it leads to unpleasant issues like attic rain that can cause major water damage in your attic space.

Still Wondering About R49 Vs. R60 Attic Insulation? Give Us a Call!

If you have questions about R49 vs. R60 attic insulation or you'd like to schedule an appointment to have your attic floor insulation level raised to R60 so you can stay cozy all winter long, call the professional team at Koala Insulation of South Kansas City at 816-929-8255. Our knowledgeable staff can tell you more about R49 vs. R60 and answer all your questions about reaching the best insulation level with batt insulation, blown-in insulation, and spray foam insulation.