NORTHWEST HOUSTON Blog

R Value- What you need to know!

An attic is adequately insulated when you don’t suffer from high energy bills, the indoor air quality is fresh and the living space is comfortable. To achieve this, Energystar.gov recommends most attics to have a particular R value. The term comes from thermal resistance. Commercial insulating materials such as cellulose, fiberglass, and sprayfoam are tested and assigned an R-value rating that says how well they limit heat from moving through them. 

In Houston, the recommended R-Value is R-38 or equivalent to 10-14 inches of insulation, depending on the material. 

The higher the R-value of the insulating material, the higher the heat resistance. 

Over time, insulation starts to sag, settle, or decompress. As it does, its resistance to heat wavers and reduces your house’s thermal protection, increasing energy bills and risks of condensation problems.

How do I know I have enough insulation for my attic?

An attic insulation evaluation is done by insulation professionals to inspect your attic and the condition of its insulation.  Koala Insulation of Northwest Houston offers these evaluations for free, so that you can confidently understand your attic’s current condition. 

By looking at your attic span, you can also tell on your own if your insulation is insufficient. 

Signs of inadequate insulation are:  

• The insulation is below or is on the same level with the joists.
• The joists can easily be seen.
• Insulation is extremely old, battered and has sagged, settled, and/or matted down. 
• Insulation is damaged and infested with rodents (droppings, nests).

It is also important that the attic insulation is well-distributed over the attic and the eaves. 

Adding insulation to achieve the recommended R-value

If your insulation is inadequate, a new layer of insulation can be added over the old insulation. 

You might want to opt for the same insulation material. It’s also okay to layer your existing insulation with a different insulating material that best suits your needs.

For example, you can choose blown-in on top of batts insulation or the other way around. If you want to put batts on top of blown-in, the batts must be unfaced to prevent moisture build-up.

Don’t layer if it needs replacement: Before deciding to install the new insulation, inspect the condition of the existing insulation. If it’s extremely old, wet, or infested with mold, it should be replaced. Adding new insulation to the wet insulation will cause moisture problems.

Resolve leaks first: If your existing insulation had instances of getting wet, address the cause of water leaks before adding a new insulation to prevent it from happening again.                                                                        

Installing new insulation over existing ones is not an easy task. You want to make sure you get it right the first time. Our knowledgeable team of professionals at Koala Insulation can guide you all throughout the process: from inspecting your attic insulation, making recommendations about the best insulation according to your needs and budget, to installing it effectively. 

Book your free insulation evaluation with one of our consultants today!.