18 Mar What Is R-Value?

As many of us know R-value has remained the determining factor of how people measure the effectiveness of their insulation for many years. However, R-value is essentially just an equation that determines the product’s resistance to heat without any moisture or wind taken into consideration.  In other words, the R-value is a test in non-world situations. We are here to tell you that this factor that has been used for many years is possibly not as effective as the majority of us may have thought.

The R-value of spray foam, fiberglass batts, and cellulose insulation are very similar; however, spray foam insulation, without a doubt is much more effective in insulating your home regardless of what the R-value might convey. This is because R-value only measures the product’s resistance to heat and does not take into account any wind, moisture or air movement. R-value is also not able to calculate any air leakage that is occurring throughout the current home’s insulation. In Arizona, as well as every other area in the world, wind and moisture are not foreign concepts. So because the R-value excludes these factors home owners are withheld from crucial information pertaining to the products’ insulation.

We hope this short explanation helps convey the actual effectiveness of the R-value of insulation. The next time you think of insulation or R-value remember that you might not always be receiving the same capability as the numbers send forth.