Fl Residential Attic Insulation Options

Open cell is the less expensive option.

Fl residential attic insulation options. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation. Energy star s map of recommended home insulation shows that the majority of florida is within zone 2. But increasingly the materials we put inside our walls and ceilings are turning a deeper shade of green with old standbys like fiberglass and foam cleaning up. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Broward collier hendry lee miami dade monroe and palm beach and require a minimum r 30 attic insulation. Spray foam insulation is the most expensive insulation and it is available in open cell and closed cell options. Insulation decreases the amount of heat entering from outside when it s hot and traps warmth inside when it s cold. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Typically fiberglass or cellulose are the material choices. Climate zone 1 consists of the following south florida counties. All other florida counties are considered to be in climate zone 2 and require a minimum r 38. Most homes are insulated in the attic and any floors located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces.

Most insulation you buy will have a sq ft number for easy reference. The r value indicates how well insulation resists heat transfer. Its properties make it an excellent choice for attic insulation. Often installed into wall cavities as a way to retro fit walls lacking insulation it can also be blown into unfinished attic spaces.

Whether it s pink white yellow or blue all insulation is at least a little bit green after all anything that saves so much energy gets high marks for environmental friendliness. Let s say you measured your attic and you realize your attic has about 9 inches r 30 of insulation and your attic is about 40 sq feet you d need at least 3 inches of extra insulation that covers 40 sq ft to get an r value of r 38. This type of insulation. Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material.

However it does not provide any vapor barrier. Spray foam is great for any home new or not so new. It s available in fiberglass mineral wool plastic fibers and natural fibers. R value for loose fill per inch is between r2 and r4 higher value with fiberglass.

But if you have an existing home in need of attic insulation don t worry. This zone has a recommended r value of 30 to 60 for an uninsulated attic r25 to r38 for an attic with existing insulation and r13 to r19 for the floor. Installing spray foam insulation is a complex process so it s easiest to perform on new construction homes during the building phase.