Note from this chart that the ideal r value differs for each part of your home.
How much insulation is required in an attic in texas.
Therefore a three inch thick board has an r value of 3.
The average recommended level is 17 inches of r60.
The insulation in your attic should be at least 12 thick.
Add insulation to attic.
Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings.
The two types of attic insulation available for diy are loose fill insulation and batts insulation.
If your attic insulation is only a few inches thick or if you can see the ceiling joists you re wasting money on your heating and cooling bills.
Existing 3 4 inches of insulation.
Loose fill cellulose on the other hand is a much heavier type of insulation which makes it very effective in low temperatures.
Residents of southern and central texas should insulate their attics to at least r 30 or about 9 5 inches of conventional fiberglass batt insulation.
This weight however makes it too heavy to use in attic installations and it can settle over time losing as much as 20 of its effectiveness.
For example if you have a type of insulation that has an r value of r 5 per inch of thickness you will need a depth of 6 inches of this insulation installed your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3.
The average recommended level is 14 inches of r49.
Further attic insulation can be done with attic tents which insulate the attic drop down stairs and slice your energy bill by about 145 annually.
In zone 1 the average minimum requirement for attic insulation is 9 inches of r30 fill.
If you live in the texas panhandle consider increasing your insulation level to at least r 38.
It is not uncommon to see 15 to 20 of insulation in a well insulated attic.
If you think you re among the 90 of us homes that are under insulated 1 performing a simple insulation inspection will help you determine your insulation needs.
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.
What region you live in see the map below.
Dallas texas falls in climate zone three where attics are recommended to have an r value between 38 49 this means a minimum of 12 of insulation.
Insulation professionals will be able to tell you how much insulation you need based on.
The thicker the better.