Ceiling insulation in Melbourne – What R-Value?

Melbourne’s climate is on average cooler than the other major capital cities, and in winter the weather can be both damp and windy – a chilly combination.

Ceiling Insulation R-Value Matters

Without ceiling insulation, the indoor temperature will ‘follow’ the outside temperate, and even with a heater on, you will likely find yourself struggling to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, especially on those frosty winter evenings. The solution is ceiling insulation with a sufficient R-Value. Bulk insulation such as glasswool and polyester contains millions of tiny air-pockets. These drastically slow down the heat transfer process. A thicker insulation batt will have a higher R-Value, and will be more effective.

Cost / Benefit Analysis

Doubling the insulation R-Value will not double the energy efficiency of your home. The law of diminishing returns is very applicable here. And it’s not a fixed equation either – should energy prices skyrocket a few years down the track, then there may be many home owners wishing that they’d installed a higher R-Value at the time.

What We Recommend in Melbourne

As a rule of thumb, if you’re building a new home or installing ceiling insulation in a new home in or around Melbourne, we recommend a minimum of R4.0. This is typically around 20cm thick, and provides a good level of thermal protection. Upgrading to an R5.0 or even and R6.0 will moderately increase the energy efficiency of your home, and could also result in real $$ savings if electricity prices continue to rise. For more information please contact us at our Melbourne warehouse.

Updated: taking into account the significant energy price increases anticipated after July 2017, we are recommending Melbourne customers to consider R5.0 or R6.0 as a standard.