Is r11 or r13 insulation better?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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The bigger the R value, the better the insulation is at slowing down the heat transfer. So R19 is better insulation than R13, and R30 is better than R19. The larger the R value, the better the insulation value. The depth of the 2x4 is 3.5 inches, which will accommodate R11 or R13 insulation.



Hereof, is r13 insulation better than r11?

R11 is for sound and should never be used for exterior walls. It can be, but you're spending money with little benefit. R13 is standard 2x4 insulation. R13 is also considered a higher density batt, if you look and feel the 2 (r11 and r13), there is huge difference.

Likewise, how good is r13 insulation? Two-component closed cell spray polyurethane foam insulation provides R-values as high as 6.5 per inch of thickness, which means that you can achieve R-13 in a space as thin as 2.0 inches. It also blocks air leaks and drafts better than other insulation materials.

Hereof, is r13 or r15 insulation better?

R15 should be better than R13 by a little bit in the wall. If you have steel studs instead of wood, then the R15 and R13 walls would be about the same because of high conductivity of the steel. You will never get an R15 wall with R15 insulation if it was tested as a composite system.

What does R 11 insulation mean?

The R-11 kraft faced Batt insulation is comprised of pre-cut widths to fit between the studs and joists in your home. Owens Corning EcoTouch insulation is soft to the touch, easy to cut and install. In addition, EcoTouch insulation delivers comfort - helps homes stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Can you put r19 in 2x4 walls?

R19 in a 2×6 wall does not really give you an R19 wall. It is about a R16 wall because of the feect of the “thermal short circuiting” through the studs. If it is a 6″ steel stud wall, it could be as low as an R11 wall.

What should the R value be for exterior walls?

Typical recommendations for exterior walls are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces. See the Department of Energy's (DOE) ranges for recommended levels of insulation below.

Is r13 insulation good for soundproofing?

During building or remodeling, an effective and affordable way to improve the soundproofing performance of walls and ceilings is to put batt or blanket insulation between studs or joists. Most are the same as R-11 or R-13 insulation batts.

Should I put plastic over insulation?

Back years ago, it was always said to NOT put a plastic vapor barrier over the insulation before hanging drywall or whatever material you decide to hang, as it would cause the room or building to act like a greenhouse.

Is r19 insulation good for exterior walls?


R-19. Although the U.S. Department of Energy rates R-13 insulation as "good" for use in walls in southern areas of the country, it rates R-19 insulation higher, designating it as "great." That is because R-19 insulation provides more thermal insulation than R-13 does.

What is the best insulation for exterior walls?

What Insulation is Best for Exterior Walls?
  • Fiberglass has been used as a home insulation material for decades. It's affordable and effective, making it the go-to choice for many homebuilders and contractors.
  • Cellulose is a great choice for insulating an enclosed existing wall with minimal demolition.
  • Spray foam is applied wet and expands into thick, hard foam.

What is the best soundproofing insulation?

Two of the best soundproofing insulation materials are loose-fill cellulose and fiberglass. Blown-in insulation provides a twofold benefit, both adding insulation and soundproofing to your home. This is a perfect twofer, since if you're trying to reduce noise, you might as well reduce your utility bills!

What does the R mean for insulation?

"R" means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. Almost all insulation products have to tell you their R-value — pipe and duct insulation are the only exceptions.

How much insulation do I need for a 2x4 wall?

Insulation for 2x4 Walls
Since modern two-by-fours are not 4 inches, the true depth of the wall cavity is 3 1/2 inches. In most wall applications, you will use R-13 or R-15 kraft-faced fiberglass insulation rolls for these two-by-four stud walls.

How good is r15 insulation?


Maximum R-Value at Lower Costs R-15 EcoTouch® insulation is designed to allow the use of a thinner exterior sheathing while still easily achieving high recommended R-values for exterior walls. 3½ " thick R-15 EcoTouch® insulation delivers 36% more R-value than standard R-11 fiber glass insulation.

What wall insulation should I use?

Fiberglass batts, foam or cellulose can be used to insulate the interior walls. The third area that needs proper insulation is the floors. Rigid foam boards and traditional fiberglass batts work best on the floors. The fourth area to insulate is crawl spaces.

What is r13 insulation used for?

The R-13 Faced Batt Insulation is comprised of pre-cut widths to fit between the studs and joists in your home. Owens Corning EcoTouch insulation is soft to the touch, easy to cut and install. In addition, EcoTouch insulation delivers comfort - helps homes stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

How thick is R 15?

Compare all Specifications
Insulation Location 2x4 Wall Insulation Location 2x6 Wall
Roll or Batt Roll or Batt Roll
Product Length (ft.) 7.75 ft Product Length (ft.) 32 ft
Faced or Unfaced Faced Faced or Unfaced Faced
Product Thickness (in.) 3.5 in Product Thickness (in.) 5.5 in

What is r20 insulation?

This Johns Manville R20 fiberglass building insulation is formaldehyde free, fireproof and mold resistant. It provides effective resistance to heat transfer. It is 15" x 47" x 6" in size with a coverage area of 78.33 ft².

How does R value work?


Essentially R-value is a measure of thermal resistance, or the ability to prevent the transfer of heat. The larger the number, the harder that insulation is working at preventing heat conduction. The less heat loss, the lower your energy bills. The standard R-value for roofs is R-30 or R-40.

How do you measure insulation?

Measure the length and width of the area you need to insulate. Multiply the length times the width to determine the square footage of the space. Decide the type of insulation to use. Cellulose insulation is calculated based on the depth of the blown-in insulation.

How do you install insulation?

How to Install Kraft-Faced Insulation
  1. Cut the insulation roll or batt to fit the length of the framing cavity, if necessary.
  2. Fit the insulation into the framing cavity, starting at the top (for walls) or at one end (for ceilings/floors/roofs).
  3. Fold out the paper flange along one side of the insulation.