What is R-Value?
Whenever a person seeks to get his/her house insulated he/ she prefers to get an insulation that will give maximum R-value. R-value is the measure of thermal resistance and the R-value of a material is determined by the measure of its resistance to heat flow. High insulation R-value products are most effective and will provide appropriate levels of heat and cool energy throughout the year. The measurement of R-value is determined by the density, thickness, and type of material used. Hence selecting a material with higher R-value gives you better insulation. The higher the R-value, the more the material insulates.
Experts conduct value ratings to determine the resistance to heat flow of various insulation materials. These experts then mark the product as per its R-value weightage. As said before the higher the value is the better it is said to perform.
R-value and insulation materials have a close relation. An insulation that can provide better resistance from heat will help you to keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter. It is advisable to purchase an insulation material that has high R-value. Many consider buying insulation as per its thickness is a wise decision; however the thickness of the insulation material does not matter as much as the R-value. Some of the thin insulation materials perform equivalent to if not more than the thicker insulations.
The R-value required for each house depends on the climate and temperature. Also the place that you are planning to insulate determines the R-value you need so that it works effectively. For e.g. the insulation requirement of the attic of your house would be different from the living room. The basements in U.S are recommended to be insulated with material that provides R-value of 12.
There are many insulation products in the market and each of them have different R-values. Thus before you invest in an insulation do a complete research to find out the R-value each can provide. Select the one that gives the highest R-value to enjoy maximum benefits of insulation.
Amongst the various insulation materials in the market, spray foam insulation is known to give the best R-value. It is also amongst the most popular type of insulation used by home owners. Polyurethane spray foam insulation alone has an R value of around 6.8. In case water gets in to the insulation the R-value of the product is lowered as water brings down the insulation and causes spots or gaps that reduce the R-value of the insulation. As spray foam is completely water resistant it continues to provide effective thermal resistance to the house.
These benefits of spray foam can be enjoyed only if it is applied by a professional as the material is difficult to handle. EcoStarFoam.com is a leading service provider for spray foam insulation. Our team of professionals use durable spray foam of various well known brands to cover every cavity in your house and make your home energy efficient. Our service is well known in New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding area.
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