Basement Insulation R Value

With the correct insulation your basement can stay warmer in the winter by keeping the cold from penetrating your basement walls and cooler in the summer by adding a layer.

Basement insulation r value.

When insulating basement walls the required r value shall b e applie d from th e top of the basement w all to a depth of ten feet 3048 mm below grade or to the top of the basement floor whichever is less. Your basement can be notorious as the coldest room in your house. The basement walls need to be insulated to a minimum value of r 10 for continuous insulation such as foam plastic insulation or r 13 for framing cavity insulation based on the component requirements of table n1102 1 insulation and fenestration requirements by component. When determining how much insulation you need don t guesstimate calculate.

Basement walls require a minimum of either r 10 continuous or r 13 batted insulation. Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators. Insulation level are specified by r value. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

However you can stop that by properly insulating it against all of the weather fluctuation outside. Generally zones 1 and 2 cover the southern states which suggest no necessary values to r 10 for basement walls. If structural sheathing covers 40 or less of the exterior continuous insulation r value shall be permitted to be reduced by no more than r 3 in the locations where structural sheathing is used to maintain a consistent total sheathing thickness. Recommended home insulation r values.

Zones 3 and 4 include the midwest and northern regions requiring r 10 to r 19 values. The higher the r value the greater the insulation performance. R value measures how well certain building insulation materials can resist heat. It provides r values that range from 3 6 to 4 2 per inch.

Also called styrofoam insulation this is the least expensive material. Extremely northern regions and high elevations are zone 5 requiring r 15 to r 19 values. Choose this option for areas that need a good amount of strength and water resistance. The model energy code recommends r 11 insulating values for basement walls in most of the country and r 15 for the northernmost states.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. Understand r values the measurement of insulation s effectiveness or thermal resistance. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Some products have reinforced facing to make them sturdier.