COMPARATIVE R-VALUES OF FLOORING AND SUBFLOORS
MATERIAL Thickness R-Value
WOOD
plywood 3/4" R-1.06
OSB 3/4" R-1.19
engineered wood 1/4" R-0.25
" " 3/8" R-0.38
" " 5/8" R-0.63
" " 3/4" R-0.75
MDF/Plastic laminate 1/2" R-0.50
engineered bamboo 3/4" R-0.72
cork tile 1/4" R-0.28
cork/MDF/laminate 1/2" R-1.18
Oak 3/4" R-0.64
Ash 3/4" R-0.68
Maple 3/4" R-0.66
Pine 3/4" R-0.71
Fir 3/4" R-0.77
TILE/STONE
ceramic tile 1/4" R-0.02
concrete 2" R-0.32
thinset 1/8" R-0.01
gypsum 1-1/2" R-0.31
brick 1-1/2" R-0.26
marble 1/2" R-0.05
granite 1/2" R-0.05
VINYL/RUBBER
sheet vinyl 1/8" R-0.05
linoleum 1/8" R-0.05
rubber 1/8" R-0.05
CARPET
nylon low 1/8" R-0.65
nylon plush 1/4" R-1.12
nylon saxon 1/2" R-1.96
nylon plush 5/8" R-1.83
nylon shag 1-1/4" R-2.46
acrylic level loop 1/4" R-1.03
acrylic plush 1/2" R-1.71
polyester plush 1/4" R-0.95
polyester high-low 1/2" R-1.66
wool low 1/4" R-1.50
wool plush 1/2" R-2.19
PAD
slab rubber 1/4" R-0.62
waffled sponge rubber 7/16" R-0.78
hair & jute coated 7/16" R-1.71
bonded polyurethane 3/8" R-1.55
bonded polyurethane 1/2" R-2.09
prime polyurethane 3/8" R-1.58
prime polyurethane 1/2" R-2.01
frothed polyurethane 3/8" R-1.20
frothed polyurethane 1/2" R-1.61
floating floor pad 1/8" R-0.20