Originally Posted by
gary gramling
Remember, the question was whether we needed to state an R factor for blown insulation, which I believe is beyond the scope of a proper inspection.
The question was as stated below, with your ending statement which changed the discussion from the question to your statement.
Originally Posted by
gary gramling
For my sake, please advise as to why we would comment on the R factor of insulation? I understand why we report on the presence or absence of insulation; as well as whether it may have been installed properly.
I had already answered the question in the posts above by stating that it is next to impossible to determine the R-value of blown in loose fill unless you know the manufacturer and how many bags per how many square feet are stated on the bags. Being as we do not know that, and the R-value of blown in loose fill insulation varies from 2.2 to 4.3 per inch, there is no reliable way to guess at that R-value.
Which left us discussing your statement: "I understand why we report on the presence or absence of insulation; as well as whether it may have been installed properly" and I stated we should be reporting more than that, we should be reporting the depth of blown in loose fill, and not just one depth, but the thickest and thinnest depths, and even the depth of most of it (many attics will have thin areas, thick areas, and areas which are between and which are likely the greater area. All that said, though, if there is 30" in part of the attic and 3" in other areas, the 30" is wasted as the heat is going through the thinnest areas - regardless how thick the thickest areas are.