Bandera County, TX Insulation Payback
Bandera County, TX: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Bandera County as climate zone 2, hot-humid — summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-49 costs roughly $2,820 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 3.1 years at an estimated $907/year saved. The math clears comfortably within a normal ownership horizon.
Heating vs. cooling in Bandera County
The estimated savings split roughly $506/year heating, $401/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Bandera County's savings potential beats roughly 10 of them. Within zone 2 specifically, it ranks 36th of 233 counties by estimated savings. Texas averages $1,035/year across the counties tracked here; Bandera County comes in 12% lower.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's MEDINA 1NE, TX US station, 3.7 miles from Bandera County, supplies the 1,909 HDD and 2,515 CDD this estimate runs on. By total degree days, Bandera County sits at the 9th percentile nationally. Bandera County falls in DOE's moisture regime B (dry), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
If the attic isn't bare
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-38 needs filling, at roughly $1,620 for an estimated $122/year saved (~13.3-year payback). This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Next steps for a Bandera County attic
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given Bandera County's estimated $907/year on the line.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-49 is the target here specifically.