What Are The Different Types Of

    Insulation I Can Use On My Home?

 

Insulation is material that stops heat from moving out of tanks, boilers, and hot water pipes, and is not just for attics and outside walls, it is available in nearly any material imaginable.  Also an efficient way to reduce unwanted noise, it is commonly used to provide a more comfortable and quieter interior environment. Insulation is not expensive, as a one-time investment for your comfort. Insulation is installed using a variety of techniques such as stapling, wiring, pasting or spraying, depending on the type of surface the material is being applied, and unlike heating and cooling equipment; it is permanent and does not require maintenance, upkeep, or adjustment. It is rated in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value, which indicates the resistance to heat flow.

  Insulation is rated according to its R-value, or its ability to resist heat flow, with a high R-value being a greater resistance. Pipe insulation is also important in buildings, for pipes that carry heated or cooled substances, and the choice and degree is based on a number of factors, such as prevailing climate; for example, most often the requirement for wall insulation is R-13. The best type depends on, how much is needed, the accessibility of the location, the space available, local availability and price, and other considerations unique to each purchaser, and as you all know, having good insulation is critical to having an energy efficient house. To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic.  A quick way to see if you need more, is to look across your uncovered attic floor; if it is level with or below the attic floor you probably need to add more insulation. Proper insulation can save you loads of money with your heating and cooling bills, what you may not know, however, is that most mainstream, commercially-available insulation is pretty nasty stuff that you probably don’t want anywhere near the air you breathe all day. 

Rigid insulation is made from fibrous materials or plastic foams and is produced in board-like forms and molded pipe coverings to be used in confined spaces such as exterior walls, basements, foundation and stem walls, concrete slabs, and cathedral ceilings.  Commonly used for foundations as an insulative wall sheathing, it may also trigger reactions in people who are chemically sensitive since most fiber glass insulation is produced using a phenol formaldehyde binder to hold the fibers together.  Fiberglass insulation is an interesting product which can be installed for home projects in the form of faced or un-faced batting, forming a thick blank composed of glass fibers which are spun and then encapsulated in a vapor retardant lined paper bag.  Un-faced fiberglass insulation is the same thick blanket of spun glass fibers but without the paper cover.

Cotton insulation is increasing in popularity as an environmentally preferable option for insulation. Cotton batt insulation is manufactured from post-industrial denim and cotton fibers.  Rock wool for residential insulation is more common in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand than in the U.S.  Like cellulose, cotton batt insulation is treated with borates to resist fire, mold and vermin.  Denim insulation is cotton fiber insulation made from recycled denim and cotton fibers, materials that act as insulators because of the looser structure, or "breathability" of the fabric compared to tighter weaves. Recycled denim insulation is “green” because it is environmentally friendly.

Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper (mostly newspaper) and wood fiber that have been treated with boric acid to impart fire, mold, and pest resistance.  Cellulose insulation is regulated as a recognized fire hazard by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which requires labeling of cellulose insulation to inform installers and consumers about the threat of fire.  Unfortunately, cellulose insulation is exceptionally susceptible to mold contamination as well. The advantage is, it is environmentally preferable, being made of 80% recycled newspaper.

 Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually light-brown or gold in color. Cementitious foam insulation is made from magnesium from sea water and blown in place with air.  Perlite insulation is made from a natural occurring volcanic mineral and is often used as loose fill insulation in concrete block cavities.  Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) insulation is rigid, lightweight, flexible, wind resistant, and effective in extreme temperatures and weather conditions.  R-Control Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation is used for all types of R-Control construction.  R-Control EPS insulation is reliable, cost effective, and compatible with major roofing materials and systems. Blown in or sprayed in insulation applications are typically much easier to work with, especially when the old insulation is hard to get to or to replace all together.

In conclusion, there are many types of insulation. Find the best one to use on your home. Call Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspection and contact Inspector D. Kanakis at (866) 476-2056, if you believe that a builder or other contractor has not properly insulated your new or existing home.

 

 

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