How Much Attic Insulation Do I Need In Florida

Inspecting your attic insulation.

How much attic insulation do i need in florida. Energy star s map of recommended home insulation shows that the majority of florida is within zone 2. Ceiling insulation must be much higher at r 30 and a raised floor must be at least r 13. Most insulation you buy will have a sq ft number for easy reference. Insulation requirements in florida.

Existing 3 4 inches of insulation. The attic is one of the most important areas in your home to insulate. 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. If your attic has enough insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well.

Think of when you go grocery shopping. So if you re thinking of adding insulation to your florida home s attic you need to ask yourself these three questions to ensure the project is successful. Broward collier hendry lee miami dade monroe and palm beach and require a minimum r 30 attic insulation. If you are still wondering how much insulation do i need in my attic then this answers your question.

Residential requirements for insulation are divided by the location in the home. All other florida counties are considered to be in climate zone 2 and require a minimum r 38. Climate zone 1 consists of the following south florida counties. Homes should have between r 22 and r 49 insulation in the attic.

To measure the heat resistance ability of insulation the r value must be determined. The florida building code identifies two distinct climate zones. Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Framed wall insulation must meet or exceed r 13.

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. Attics are ideally insulated with r 38 insulation. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. This can be approximately 10 to 14 inches of insulation but still depending on the type of insulation.

Your attic should have a certain amount of insulation in it and the recommended level of insulation for your attic is dependent on where you live. First things first you need to go up into your attic inspect the condition of the insulation and calculate the current level of insulation. For block walls interior insulation must meet or exceed r 7 8 and exterior insulation must be r 6.