Importance of understanding R-values
R-values in Seattle, WA
Climate zones were established by the US Department of Energy. These climate zones are used as a reference to determine what level of R-value is recommended. Seattle falls under Climate Zone 4, which is an indication of marine climate with temperate summers and winters. This means that if you have a home in the Seattle region, the recommended R-value for your attic is between R-49 and R-60. Therefore, before you start work on any attic insulation projects, be sure to consult with our company. We solely focus on attic insulations and understand all the technical guidelines that must be satisfied. We will assess your attic space and guide you based on your budget and goals.
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What are R-values?
R-values is a measure of how well your insulation maintains the heat within your home. In other words, it tells you how easily heat flows in and out of your home. The higher the R-value, the better the heat flow is maintained. Higher R-values will mean more savings on your heating and cooling costs. Here is a simple explanation:
Say it’s winter and you start cranking up that heater. You start noticing that the heater turns on more frequently than you expect. You check the thermometer and also notice that the temperature keeps falling quickly. This likely means your insulation is not doing a good job in keeping the heat in. In other words, your insulation has a low R-value. After you hire a professional attic insulation contractor to put in brand new insulation, you start to notice the heater is on less often and the warmth of your home stays consistent. The R-value has gone up. The strength of your insulation is doing a much better job resisting the flow of heat out of your home.
Which insulations should I use to achieve the highest R-value?
All insulations have different levels of R-values. Here are some of your options provided by our Seattle attic insulation experts and their respective R-value per inch:
- Closed-Cell Spray Foam: Spray foam scores the highest with R-value per inch typically ranging from R-6 to R-7. It goes without saying that this is your best choice to achieve optimal thermal insulation.
- Fiberglass: Fiberglass insulations typically range in R-values per inch between R-2.5 to R-4. It is a great affordable option. It is almost one of the most commonly used insulation materials.
- Cellulose: Cellulose insulation R-value per inch ranges from R-3.2 to R-3.8. This is another effective thermal insulation choice. It is also important to note that it is a very eco-friendly option as it is made from recycled paper.
- Open-Cell Spray Foam: This is another spray foam option, but is much lighter in density. The R-values per inch is usually between R-3.5 and R-4.5.
