Recommended R Value For Basement Floor

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Recommended r value for basement floor.

Depending on where you live and the part of your home you re insulating walls crawlspace attic etc you ll need a different r value. The list below gives recommended levels of insulation for the main areas of the home. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are r 13 to r 23 while r 30 r 38 and r 49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces. If veiwing this page on a phone it s best to turn the phone to view in landscape mode r values of flooring materials.

These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation. For improved comfort moisture control and radon reduction apply a moisture barrier to the floor or seal the floor to prevent moisture accumulation between the insulation and the slab. This two inch thick piece of wood and the siding covering it are all that separates the interior of the basement from the outdoors. Insulation level are specified by r value.

Generally zones 1 and 2 cover the southern states which suggest no necessary values to r 10 for basement walls. As most heat is lost through the upper part of the foundation walls basement floor slabs are seldom insulated. Basement floors r 10 rsi 1 8 basement walls r 12 rsi 2 1 above grade walls r 20 rsi 3 5. Basement insulation recommended r values by climate.

R values of different flooring materials. Zones 3 and 4 include the midwest and northern regions requiring r 10 to r 19 values. These numbers will vary from material to material. Minimum recommended insulation levels.

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 in your attic to reach r 30 if you live in zones 2 or 3. The r values of the carpet and padding add together for a total r value. R values of different flooring materials. To keep moisture and mold away this underlayment is treated with microban and includes airguard technology to promote airflow with embedded polyshims that prevent compression and allow moisture vapor to escape.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Recommended home insulation r values. Make sure that any water pipes are kept on the warm side of the insulation to prevent freezing in winter. For radiant floor heating you want the total r value to be as low as possible lower than 4 0.