If you are probably looking forward to re-insulate your home or workplace, then you probably have considered spray foam insulation as a better option. Before you make a firm decision to re-insulate, you should have a proper understanding of R-value. You should understand what insulation is before you begin
How Insulation Works
You must understand how heat flows. Most insulation slows down conductive heat flow. Heat flow warmer to cooler until the temperature events out. During winter seasons, heat moves from your living place to your unheated garage, basement, attic, and eventually outside. Did you know that heat flow could also walk through floor, walls, and ceilings through radiation?
What about during the summer? This is what happens. Heat moves in the opposite direction. That is, from outside to your home interior
Terminologies
Convection – the lighter the air in your home interior and cooler air sinks
Conduction – This is how heat through materials. It is the way heat passes through gases and liquids.
Radiation – heat moves in a straight line. The weather heats whatever is stable in the path and can absorb energy.
How Does R-Values Fit In?
R-value of insulation is a value that is used to measure how effective a specific insulation type can resist heat flow. R-value is a short form for Resistance Value. R-values depends on:
- Thickness – the thicker the material used to insulate the more it resists heat transfer
- Density – the higher the frequency of the foam, the higher the R-value
- Type of insulation – to choose the best kind of insulation, you will need to know where you need to install the insulation.
R-Value In 2 Inches Of Spray Foam
Open-cell spray foam holds and absorbs. It has a lower R-value per inch than closed-cell spray foam. Open-cell spray foam is vapor-permeable. The R-value ranges from R-3.5 to R-3.6 per inch. The filling of a 2×4 cavity yields about an R-13.
Where you install the insulation also translates to how well insulation resists heat flow. For example, if the insulation has been compressed within a place, the full R-value will not be retained.
R-values also depend on temperatures, aging, and moistures. The higher the R-values, the better the material insulates. It is excellent to note that a higher R-value corresponds to higher effectiveness. The amount of R-value and insulation entirely depends on the type of heating and cooling system, climate, and the part of your place being insulated.
Next Article: Is Spray Foam Insulation worth it?
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