Building a house on piers
primitivelamps
| Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on
So if I am building a house on piers (zone 5) based on 2012 IECC, the ceiling has R-49, the floor has R-30 (or minimum 19), and the walls have R-20.
Am I missing something here? If heat seeks cold in any direction, would it not make sense to have the same level of insulation on all sides?
I have never really understood why, if a home is air sealed properly and tight, it is more beneficial to have R-49 in the ceiling and not the walls and floor. Or is this just based on a what’s practical approach? Suppose I answered my own question.
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Replies
Right.
Terry,
As you guessed, it's easier and cheaper to add deep insulation to a ceiling than to a floor, and it's easier and cheaper to add deep insulation to a floor than to a wall. These facts influenced code requirements for minimum R-values.
Fortunately, you are free to exceed minimum R-value regulations.