Re: Question about 'R' value for attic insulation.

On Feb 19, 10:16 pm, jessmprice_at_yahoo_dot_...@xxxxxxx (fwfrog)
wrote:
fwfrog had written this in response tohttp://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Re-Question-about-R-value...
 :
Although this post is nearly 2 years old, I find I'm in the same boat, in
the same part of town as the original author of this thread.  Can anyone
advise?

We have a house that's over 80 years old, most brick exterior, roughly
1000 sq. feet with an open attic.  We have a gas furnace in the attic as
well.

There's a very thin layer of cellulose in place - but it's so bare you can
see the 2x4's sticking up all along the attic floor.

We have two companies that have bid to blow insulation in our attic (as
they put it, the "white stuff" that looks like "snow").

Here are the bids:
R-30 (12 inches) for $200
R-38 (17 inches) for $460
-or-
R-49 (inches unknown) for $698

According to the Energy Star chart, we need R-30 at the minimum.

Would R-38 or R-49 be worth the extra cost?  Or is this overkill?

Do you have to live in the house for a long time afterwards to see a
return in your investment (based on monthly savings in your A/C or heating
bill)?

I should also mention that we had a brand new A/C unit (with, I believe, a
SEER rating of 14) installed not even 18 months ago.

Any tips would be appreciated!  Thanks!

-------------------------------------





Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
<limey...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1175893705.310687.274750@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm in Fort Worth, TX and when I look at an online chart for the
'R'
value of insulation I would need for my attic, it tells me 49.
(about
14" of cellulose. I think)

At the local DIY store they tell me that this is really overkill
and
that about 30 will do about all I need.

Since we will be doing the 'blowing in' ourselves, I would
appreciate
it if someone who has done this themselves, in this area, would
care
to give their opinion of what 'R' value I will need.
Need or want? Generally, the more the better, but there is some
diminishing
return.  In your area, it is probably a better benefit for AC than for
heating.  What is the cost difference doing it the two different ways?
$100?  Then go for the most.  $1000?  then I'd go closer to the R30.
As the cost of energy goes up, the return for more insulation gets
better.
Your energy cost may be 20% to 50% higher in a couple of years so
factor
that into your decision.

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White Stuff? what Crack, be specific. www.energystar.gov will help. R
30 is below Minimal. R 40 Is better. R 60 Is great but it will settle
15-20%. I did R 100 and it settled to R 80. Heat rises so insulate
better than the Minimal codes require.
.

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