Home insulation is one of those critical investments that you want to make carefully. High-quality insulation will help keep your home secure from the weather outside, helping to reduce your heating and cooling costs. On the other hand, insulation that is too good for your purposes can be a waste of money.
You can measure the quality of an insulation product in part by its R-value. R-value is a measurement of how well the material resists the transfer of heat. The higher the R-value, the more your insulation will either retain your heat in winter or protect you from the heat in the summer.
Which are the best types of insulation for your home? It depends on what you need, but here are your options.
1. Batts and Rolls
When you think of insulation you might think of these blanket-like rolls of insulation. They are made into long strips, kind of like grass sod. The technician who installs them will roll them out onto the wall and secure them in place. Batts and rolls may be made of several different materials. While most commonly it is made of fibreglass, you will also find natural fibre, mineral wool, and plastic fibre options. The range of quality of this kind of insulation varies widely depending on the material and the manufacturing techniques.
2. Blown-In Insulation
Blown-in insulation is, as its name suggests, literally blown into place. The product is just loose insulation fibres that your technician will feed through a machine that blows the material into place. As with batts and rolls, loose insulation may be made from a wide variety of materials and different products will achieve different R-values.
Loose insulation is often used to add insulation to a certain part of the home, like the ceiling, basement, or attic.
Need to figure out which type of insulation you need? Contact a Baeumler Approved contractor today to learn more!
3. Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is an interesting option that is sprayed onto your walls in liquid form, where it puffs up, expands and turns into a solid. While spray foam often achieves great R-values, it can also create moisture problems. It is important to either use a vapour retardant or to choose closed-cell spray foam to help mitigate moisture risks.
4. Rigid Foam Boards
Rigid foam boards are like thick poster board. Typically, they have great R-values that can far exceed other kinds of insulation. However, they are also high priced and therefore not often used for homes, but more often in insulation for commercial buildings. Rigid foam boards are much thinner than other kinds of insulation and therefore sometimes used in tight spaces in homes where high-quality insulation is required. You might, for example, put rigid foam board in a cathedral ceiling or around an attic entrance.
What’s the Best Type of Insulation for Your Home?
Often, the individual R-value and benefits of the product matter more than the kind of insulation it is. A professional can help you assess your options and get your home the best insulation for your needs.
Want to learn more about home insulation and what can be used for your home? Contact a Baeumler Approved contractor near you today!
