Calculating the amount of insulation you need for your project isn't as difficult as it may seem. All you need is some basic knowledge and understanding of how the insulation will be installed. The calculations for walls, floors and ceilings are sure to be different, so don't try to use a single calculator for all surfaces. Insulation calculators can tell us the most effective insulation option and help us compare the options, and our advanced insulation calculator can take into account any type of insulation situation.
When taking measurements, first measure everything in inches. Then, convert all your measurements from square inches to square feet by dividing the number of square inches by 144. The blow insulation calculator provides an accurate price estimate based on the size of your house, the amount of insulation (R-value), the depth of the wall, and the part of the house you need to insulate. According to the manufacturer's specifications, we use a value of 3.7R per inch of cellulose insulation and 2.9R per inch of fiberglass insulation. If you chose “Custom R Value” for attic insulation, the input should be in “R”, not in the thickness of the insulation. If you need a specific insulation thickness, multiply the inches by the respective R value of the type of insulation desired.
PATCH (FINISH) THE WALLS** Insulation blown into walls requires cutting round holes 2 to 3 inches wide between each beam. Usually this is done inside the house, cutting holes in the drywall. In such cases, contractors can drill holes in the exterior wall, lifting the vinyl siding or cutting the wood siding. However, when you already have a house with finished walls, you cannot install spray foam without removing all the drywall. In such a case, blown insulation is the only option and, in fact, it's a very decent option, given a fairly good R value (up to 4R per inch when densely packed).
In addition, blown insulation is much cheaper than spray foam per 1 square meter. In fact, blow insulation is 45 to 60% cheaper than closed-cell foam. This calculator is designed to estimate only the cost of blow insulation, which adds certain limitations to the actual installation process. Blown insulation cannot be installed between ceiling beams, as it will simply fall off. When it comes to insulating walls in a finished house, blown insulation is the ideal product since it can be inserted into the wall cavity through a small plug hole cut in the field by the installer.
Other insulation products are not feasible as they would require removal of all drywall. However, in most cases it only covers cellulose blown into product installed by an approved contractor in “standard application scenario”. Still this applies to most homes without insulation or with some type of insulation. When measuring floors, you will need to calculate length and width of floor in all rooms where insulation will be installed. That means that attic insulation will be between 13 and 18 degrees deep depending on climate and type of insulation. The best thing you can do to determine which insulation best suits your needs is to get a professional to evaluate your situation and suggest best type of insulation for your needs. If measurement doesn't add up and you need more you can do it as weekend DIY project or call professional to make sure it's installed properly. Roll insulation is sold in standard sizes suitable for insulating certain number of square feet per package. Insulation square foot calculators are available on most insulation manufacturer websites.
First thing you should do is inspect attic insulation situation since adequate insulation can help maintain comfortable temperature throughout house save money on energy bills and avoid major problems such as ice accumulations in winter. Pros and cons of each type of insulation depend on application but most important thing when choosing insulation is to know how much you'll need to get. Doing so will help know how many bags or rolls of insulation or other material you'll need stop transfer of heat and moisture to floor leading to ventilation and mold problems.
