R-value is a measure of how well a material or product can resist heat flow. It’s typically used in the construction industry, often called thermal resistance. This article will explain the basics of the R-value you need to know when installing insulation. Insulation in Shakopee MN
What is R-Value?
R-Value is the measure of a material’s thermal resistance. That means how many degrees Fahrenheit a material will resist the flow of heat, per inch of thickness of the material.
For example, if you were to insulate your attic with R-30 insulation and cover it with plywood or OSB boards, to get an R-value rating for this system you would need to multiply 30 times 12 inches (12 inches being the thickness of your plywood or OSB board). This gives you an R-value of 360 when combined with an attic that has no insulation (R=0).
As mentioned above, R-Value is not just about insulation alone; it also accounts for other factors like air infiltration and other energy losses.
How R-Value Affects Your Home and Energy Bills
R-value is used to rate insulations, like insulation in your home and your windows, because they both help keep the warm air inside your house in winter and cool air inside your house during summer.
Understanding how R-value affects your home’s energy efficiency can help you make smart decisions about what materials to use throughout the construction process. And knowing this information will also help you save money on heating bills once the project is complete!
Different Spaces, Different Amounts of Insulation
R-values are measured per inch (in2) for each type of insulation material used; for example, the foam has an R-value around 3.0 per inch while fiberglass batting has an R-value closer to 1/2 inch. Even though both have similar thicknesses when compared side by side, they provide vastly different levels of thermal performance due to their differing densities and composition ratios of materials used during production.
How much R-value Do You Need?
The following are typical R-values in different spaces of your home:
- Living room: R-19
- Dining room: R-12
- Kitchen: R-19
- Bedroom 1: R-21
- Bedroom 2: R-16
Understanding R-value
When choosing the right types of insulation for your home, it’s important to know what R-value means and how it affects your home. R-value isn’t a single rating; instead, it’s a measurement that describes how well an insulator resists heat flow through convection, conduction, and radiation.
In general terms, the higher the R-value of insulator material is—the more resistance it has to heat flow—the more effective it will be at keeping warm air from escaping from one side of an assembly into the cooler outside air. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that prevents radiant heat transfer, there are materials with lower R-values that can be used in those applications instead.
R-value is a measure of insulation that describes how well something resists heat flow. It’s important to understand R-value because it can help you manage your energy bills, improve the comfort of your home and reduce your carbon footprint. Reach out to your local insulation company with further questions. We are Spray Foam Insulation Plus, located in Shakopee MN, and we are always happy to help. Contact us today!
Insulation in Shakopee MN
Insulation in Shakopee MN
Insulation in Shakopee MN
