What is insulation R-value?

In the context of home insulation, the thermal RESISTANCE rating, also known as the R-value is a measure of the insulation batts resistance to heat flow. The greater the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat, which in turn means a higher effectiveness of the thermal insulation.

Having a high R-value will not only keep you warmer in winter but cooler in summer. Overtime it will too provide you with monumental savings on your energy bills as indoor temperatures will be retained for much longer periods of time.

If you’re a building a new home, the minimum R-values will be included in the energy report and installing the minimum R-value will grant your house a Certificate of Compliance (COC). If you are currently in an existing home with no thermal insulation in the ceiling, installing any type of R-value will concurrently increase the amount of heat being retained in your house, significantly.

What does HD/SHD mean?

If an R-value is followed by “HD”, it means the insulation is HIGH DENSITY, creating a higher thermal resistance in each batt, further more taking up less space in the wall cavity. HD insulation also creates a great barrier against acoustic sounds from travelling from room to room. There is also a premium range of super high density (SHD) insulation batts that provide a higher thermal resistance than the already heightened HD range (which also provides a greater sound barrier). HD and SHD batts all fall under the category of acoustic ranged insulation due to the high acoustic barrier qualities they deliver.