What Does R-Value Mean? - Pricewise Insulation (2024)

The R-Value of thermal insulation measures how resistant the insulation is to heat transfer. A higher R-value means a higher insulating rating.

In other words, the higher the R-Value, the better the product is at insulating your home. This means less heat loss in winter, less heat gain in summer and increased savings on your energy bill year round.

Why is R-Value Important?

The R-Value of an insulation product is the most important factor to consider if you want effective thermal insulation for your home.

It doesn’t matter what brand you choose or whether you go for glasswool, foilboard or polyester insulation. If you don’t choose the right R-Value, you won’t get the maximum benefits from your thermal insulation.

Whether you are building a new house, looking to retrofit ceiling insulation or thinking about renovating your home, make sure you consider the R-Value of your insulation products!

How is R-Value Calculated?

R-Value is calculated based on two factors:

1. the thickness of the insulation product and
2. its thermal conductivity.

R-Value = Thickness (m) / Thermal conductivity (W/mK)

The thickness of an insulation product and how poorly it conducts heat both affect its overall performance. The thicker the product, the higher the R-Value and the better the insulating power.

You can’t completely stop the flow of heat, but you can reduce the rate of heat flow by using materials which are not good at conducting heat. The higher the resistance to heat flow that the material offers, the higher the R-Value will be.

Choosing an R-Value

If you are building a new home then the minimum R-values are included in the energy report. These are the minimum R-values that you need to install in order for your house to receive a Certificate of Compliance (COC).

If you live in an existing home with no thermal insulation installed in the ceiling, then installing insulation of any R-Value will in most cases significantly reduce the amount of heat entering and leaving your home.

If you are planning a major renovation in an existing home, now is the time to think about R-Value! Retrofitting wall insulation in existing homes, topping up ceiling insulation and choosing the right underfloor insulation are all best done during the renovation phase.

What R-Value Should I Install?

To maximise the benefits of insulation for your home, it’s important to choose the right R-Value based on the climate of where you live and the design of your home. Cooler regions typically require higher R-Values.

If you live in Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide then we recommend R2.5 for the external walls and R5.0 or R6.0 in the ceiling.

If you live in Brisbane, Perth or northern NSW, then we recommend a minimum of R2.0 wall insulation and R4.0 ceiling insulation.

If you’re not sure what R-Value is right for your home based on your geographic location, speak to one of the insulation specialists at Pricewise Insulation. We would be happy to provide you with advice on selecting the ideal R-Value to maximise thermal efficiency in your home.

Upgrading to a Higher R-value

The rising cost of energy in Australia means that many homeowners are choosing to invest in higher R-values than those specified on their energy report.

A well-insulated home costs less money to heat and cool, emits less greenhouse gases and provides year round comfort.

The payback period for home insulation is generally around 3-5 years. That means it won’t take long for you to get back the cost of your insulation through savings on your power bill. And remember, the higher the R-Value, the greater the potential savings.

What About Floor, Midfloor and Internal Wall Insulation

The ceiling and walls are where the most heat loss and gain in a home occurs (up to 35% from the ceilings and up to 25% from the walls). For optimal energy efficiency, you should also consider insulating the internal walls, floors and between floors of multi-storey homes.

The ideal R-Value for underfloor insulation depends on the climate of your location and the design of your home. Typically we recommend a minimum of R2.0 and an upgrade to R2.5 for cooler locations such as Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide.

With thermal insulation in the internal walls of your home, you can create climate zones for more energy efficient heating and cooling. What’s more, installing R2.5 acoustic insulation in the internal walls and between floors helps to create a more peaceful home.

You can also install R4.0 or higher ceiling insulation between floors. These batts are so thick that they will help to stop sound transfer, as well as improve the thermal performance of your home. Knauf Earthwool has recently released a new Sound Shield insulation product with R4.0 thermal rating, that is absolutely perfect for this application.

Do Insulation Batt Ratings Decrease Over Time?

Many people want to know if insulation has an expiry. When thermal insulation batts are installed correctly they remain effective for a long time, with most fibre insulation brands offering a 30-50 year guarantee. However, some older insulation products might not last as long, and moisture ingress due to poor sealing can lessen the effective life of insulation.

Over time, insulation batts will decrease in R-Value due to normal wear and tear. However, incorrect installation such as leaving gaps or compressing the batts can decrease their efficiency at a faster rate.

Insulation batts have a longer life than blown in insulation. That’s because blown in insulation can settle over time and lose efficiency, especially in the walls. To ensure a higher R-Value for longer, it’s best to choose insulation batts when retrofitting wall insulation in existing homes.

Older homes with insulation that was installed 15 or 20 years ago may need assessing as the R-Value could have decreased. In some cases new insulation can be installed over old insulation in the ceiling to boost the R-Value.

How Do I Know What R-Value I’m Getting?

The R-Value of an insulation product is clearly displayed by the manufacturer on the packaging. Search for any insulation product on the Pricewise Insulation website and you will find the R-Values indicated clearly.

For more information or to discuss your recommended insulation R- value needs, please contact us.