Join Date: Aug 2003
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,483
SC
12-22-03, 06:53 PM
#2
Here is a link to the Oak Ridge calculator by zip code. Your attic would go R-49 with new construction and a gas furnace.
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/...on/ins_16.html
Hope this helps.
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/...on/ins_16.html
Hope this helps.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,483
SC
12-22-03, 07:48 PM
#4
One thing that gets into the equation for ORNL to dictate the amount of insulation installed is the cost versus the payback period. I suspect that the R-38 for existing houses takes into account labor and the rate of return for that. R-49 would probably take sufficiently more labor to keep it from be cost-effective in an existing house.
If you do this yourself, the labor is more of a personal concern. The material costs for my house to go to R-49 instead of R-38 is slightly less than twice. So I would look only at the material's costs. The time to blow twice as much insulation would not be too much. After all, once you are up there with the blower hose in hand. For me, the added $300 for added cellulose in the attic would not keep me from going to R-49 instead of R-38.
How? I think that blowing cellulose is the way to go. The material is cheaper than fiberglass and works at least as well. Plus you can blow cellulose yourself. You may have a problem getting the material and equipment to blow fiberglass.
Hope this helps.
If you do this yourself, the labor is more of a personal concern. The material costs for my house to go to R-49 instead of R-38 is slightly less than twice. So I would look only at the material's costs. The time to blow twice as much insulation would not be too much. After all, once you are up there with the blower hose in hand. For me, the added $300 for added cellulose in the attic would not keep me from going to R-49 instead of R-38.
How? I think that blowing cellulose is the way to go. The material is cheaper than fiberglass and works at least as well. Plus you can blow cellulose yourself. You may have a problem getting the material and equipment to blow fiberglass.
Hope this helps.