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At Brisbane Insulation, we understand that a properly insulated home is essential for maintaining year-round comfort while significantly reducing energy costs.
A key factor in selecting the most effective insulation for your home is understanding the R-Value. This guide explores what R-Value means, why it matters, how it is determined, and the best strategies for selecting and upgrading insulation to enhance your home’s thermal performance.
What is R-Value and Why is it Important?
R-Value measures how well insulation resists heat transfer. In simple terms, a higher R-Value means better insulation performance, reducing heat loss in winter and minimising heat gain in summer. This leads to improved indoor comfort and lower energy costs throughout the year.
Choosing the right R-Value is crucial for maximising insulation efficiency. Regardless of the brand or material, if the R-Value isn’t suited to your home’s needs, you won’t experience the full benefits of proper insulation.
How is R-Value Calculated?
R-Value is calculated based on two key factors: the thickness of the insulation material and its thermal conductivity.
The formula for determining R-Value is:
R-Value = Thickness (m) / Thermal Conductivity (W/mK)
Simply put, insulation that is thicker and has lower thermal conductivity will offer a higher R-Value, providing better thermal resistance and improved energy efficiency.
Choosing the Right R-Value for Your Home
Choosing the right R-Value for your insulation is essential for optimising energy efficiency and maintaining indoor comfort. Around 35% of a home’s heat loss occurs through the ceiling, while approximately 25% escapes through the walls. The ideal R-Value varies based on your climate and home design, ensuring effective temperature regulation throughout the year.
Location
Minimum Values
For Walls
Minimum Values
For Ceilings
Melbourne
Adelaide
Brisbane
Sydney
Perth
R2.5
R2.5
R2.5
R2.0
R2.0
R5.0 - R6.0
R5.0 - R6.0
R5.0 - R6.0
R4
R4
Upgrading to a Higher R-Value
With energy costs on the rise, many homeowners are choosing insulation with higher R-Values than the minimum requirements. A well-insulated home not only enhances comfort year-round but also leads to lower energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
On average, the payback period for home insulation is between 3 to 5 years, meaning the initial investment is recovered through energy savings in a relatively short time. The higher the R-Value, the greater the potential for long-term savings on your energy bills.
Comprehensive Insulation: Beyond Ceilings and Walls
While ceilings and walls account for significant heat loss and gain, effective insulation should also cover other key areas to maximise energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
Underfloor Insulation
For optimal energy efficiency, we recommend a minimum R-Value of R2.0, with an upgrade to R2.5 for cooler locations. Effective underfloor insulation helps maintain a comfortable indoor climate, especially during colder months.
Internal Wall and Midfloor Insulation
Insulating internal walls and between floors helps create distinct climate zones, making heating and cooling more energy-efficient. Additionally, it improves sound insulation, reducing noise transfer and enhancing overall comfort in your home.
Ceiling Insulation Between Floors
Installing ceiling insulation with an R-Value of R4.0 or higher between floors enhances thermal efficiency while significantly reducing noise transfer. We recommend Knauf Earthwool Sound Shield insulation with an R4.0 rating for optimal performance in both temperature regulation and soundproofing.
Longevity and Maintenance of Insulation
When properly installed, thermal insulation batts provide long-lasting performance, with most fibre insulation brands offering guarantees of 30 to 50 years. However, poor installation—such as leaving gaps or compressing the batts—can reduce their effectiveness and longevity.
Insulation batts typically outlast blown-in insulation, which can settle over time, especially in walls, diminishing its thermal performance. For retrofitting wall insulation in existing homes, batts are the preferred choice for maintaining long-term efficiency.
Checking the R-Value of Insulation
The R-Value of any insulation product is clearly displayed on the manufacturer’s packaging. We prioritise transparency by clearly listing R-Values for all our insulation products on our website. If you need guidance or have specific R-Value requirements, our expert team is always ready to help you find the best insulation solutions for your home.
Selecting the right R-Value is essential for creating a comfortable and energy-efficient home. With Brisbane Insulation's high-quality insulation products and expert advice, you can optimise your home’s thermal performance and enjoy year-round comfort while reducing energy costs.
Why Choose Us to Install your New Insulation?
We are the only QLD company to gain Knauf Insulation accreditation as a Approved Installer of Knauf Insulation blow in products. All our installers are regularly assessed and tested to ensure all installations meet the highest standards set out by our company goals and Knauf Insulation.
All the products we supply & install are CodeMark™ approved & tested. CodeMark™ is the highest level of product compliance in Australia, which is your assurance of the product’s suitability for use in your home and that it will perform as it should. CodeMark™ certification will also provide a smooth compliance pathway with local building authorities
Both a HIA & Master builders members. We are more likely to be up to date with the latest regulations and techniques and are committed to the sustainability of the industry as a whole. Members are also subject to a Code of Conduct, which contains ethical standards ensuring the highest quality of workmanship is achieved.
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All our staff are fully insured. We have $20 Mil public liability and full workers compensation giving you peace of mind that you are dealing with professionals.