You know it’s all about that R, bout that R…no seriously. When you are planning home insulation in Lehi, R-value is the number to know. What is R value? In the construction industry, R-value is the capacity of a material to resist heat flow. It means whether heat can get into your home from the outside (in summer) and whether the heat from your comfortable home will leave it (in winter). The idea is that you keep the inside temperature what you want it to be, keeping the outside from affecting the inside.

Home Insulation in Lehi

So, what is the appropriate R-value for a home here in Utah? How much home insulation in Lehi is recommended? According to Energy Star, most of Utah is a zone 5, and the northern areas, like Logan, are a zone 6. For a zone 5 home, you want an R13 to R21 in your walls, and you need R38 to R60 in your attic. The reason you want more in your attic than in your walls is two-fold. First, walls have extra layers already: insulation, sheetrock, plywood and studs, then the exterior materials such as Tyvek and siding or stucco or brick. Secondly, heat rises, so you need extra layers in your attic to keep the heat inside where you need it in winter.

Once you know what R value you need, you might wonder what that translates to in actual insulation. That question can only be answered when you know what material you are using to insulate your home. You can insulate a home with fiberglass—both blown-in and batts, as well as with cellulose, polyurethane foam, and rock wool. Each type has a different density, as well as other pros and cons. Talk to an insulation professional about which is best suited for your home.

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