Insulating Your Home
Variety of Insulations
Insulating your home is an important step to take. Properly installed insulation lowers your energy costs, keeps your home warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and may qualify you for a tax break. So how do you choose the right insulation? That depends on a few different factors.
Different insulations have different purposes and different home owners have different budgets. Spray foam insulation, for instance, is a little more costly and is used mainly for smaller areas, like around a door or window frame. Before you can figure out what type of insulation is best for you, you have to know where the insulation is going, what R-value is required in your area, how much time you can dedicate to the project, and how much money you can sink into the project.
Batt insulation is the easiest insulation to install and is naturally fire resistant. You simply unroll it, staple it into place, and cover it with a vapor shield. A vapor shield is usually a sheet of 6 mm plastic used to prevent condensation that forms in climates with cold weather from damaging the insulation. If fiberglass insulation gets wet, it will retain its R-value once it dries out again. Buy these with facing already attached and your job is even simpler. Batt insulation is good for walls that have yet to be finished. Both fiberglass batt insulation and slag wool insulation are energy efficient. You get the highest R-value for your dollar. These types of insulation are great because they won't settle over time. If you're looking to install insulation in a wall that has already been finished batt and slag wool insulation will both require a lot of demolition before they can be installed.
If you're installing insulation in a previously finished wall you may want to use blown in insulation. This type of insulation requires the least amount of demolition, but can be a bit costly because it's best installed in walls by a professional. A hole has to be cut into your wall and the insulation blown in. The hole is then patched up and openings like doors and windows must be sealed with caulk. If you're installing insulation in an attic, blown in cellulose insulation is a fairly good choice.. Blown in insulation can be any R-value you need simply by making the insulation deeper. It also reduces the risk of you stepping through your veiling because you can just point and shoot. Blown in insulation does take a little bit of know-how and it will settle over time, so you may need to go back to add more at a later date.
Spray foam insulation has begun to be used in homes fairly recently. There are two types of spray foam insulation: open cell and closed cell. Closed cell insulation typically has a higher R-value, so you get more bang for your buck. Spray foam insulation is very expensive. The product is more expensive inch for inch, and requires installation by a professional. It's sprayed in your walls as a liquid, then expands and hardens. Spray foam insulation is great because it fills every little nook and cranny creating an air tight seal. It doesn't biodegrade, so once installed it will be there for the life of your home. It also doesn't shrink or settle. Spray foam is a great option if you're sealing small spaces like outlets, around window frames, and doorways. If you're going to install spray foam insulation in your walls, be prepared to pay dearly for it. This is your most expensive insulation option.