Comparing Different Types of Home Insulation
Perth Insulation keeps your home comfortable all year round. It limits the transfer of heat via conduction, and reduces noise levels.
It’s important to maintain the quality of your insulation throughout the years to ensure optimal performance and energy savings.
The type of insulation you choose depends on many different factors, including R-Value and cost.
Fiberglass is a common insulation choice for many Atlanta-area homeowners. This material is a popular option because it is affordable and relatively easy to install in homes. But it also has its drawbacks. This type of insulation contains tiny glass fibers that can irritate the skin and cause respiratory issues. It also can promote mold growth if it becomes wet.
In addition, fiberglass can create dust and small particles that may cling to the skin and eyes. This can cause itchy, painful rashes and eye irritation. Those who work with fiberglass insulation should wear gloves, long sleeves, and a dust mask to avoid these risks. If these materials get into the lungs, they can lead to wheezing and coughing. This is especially true if a person has existing respiratory problems.
Although it has its flaws, fiberglass insulation is still a popular option. It is available in various forms including batts and rolls. This makes it suitable for different installation needs and spaces in the home. It is also one of the least expensive insulation options.
This type of insulation is commonly used in attics and walls to slow heat loss or gain. It can also be placed in the rim joist space above foundation walls to prevent heat loss through the wall. It can also be installed in exterior walls, around pipes, or where electrical wires enter a home.
Unlike some alternative types of insulation, such as cellulose or spray foam, fiberglass is made from recycled materials and does not pose a fire hazard. It can also help reduce a home’s energy costs and is more environmentally friendly than some other insulation products.
In addition, it can reduce noise levels in the home. While it does not soundproof a room like spray foam, it can reduce noise from outside and from rooms below and above. It is a good choice for people who live in cities or other noisy areas. This is because it can cut down on the sounds of traffic, planes, or neighbors.
Cellulose
Cellulose is one of the most eco-friendly insulation options available. It’s made from recycled paper and treated with borate to resist mold, insects, and fire. It’s also flexible enough to conform to ducts and other obstructions, making it versatile enough for new construction or renovation projects. Unlike fiberglass, cellulose offers higher R-values per inch and can qualify you for LEED certification points. It can be sprayed directly into wall cavities behind drywall, which helps seal the home and reduce air infiltration.
The benefits of cellulose are numerous, including its ability to provide superior thermal performance and help homeowners save on their energy bills. It is also highly effective at reducing noise transmission and can contribute to a healthier indoor environment. It is also treated with fire retardants to ensure occupant safety and is less likely to attract pests than other insulation materials.
However, cellulose can also pose some problems for homeowners. It is prone to moisture absorption and can lose its insulation properties if it becomes wet. In addition, the chemicals used to protect cellulose from fire can cause metal fasteners, plumbing pipes and electrical wires to corrode if they come in contact with wet cellulose for extended periods of time.
Another issue is cellulose’s tendency to settle over time, causing gaps in the insulation that allow air to move into and out of the home. These gaps can lead to high monthly energy bills as mechanical systems work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature.
The best way to prevent cellulose settling is to hire a Trusted Installer to perform a professional installation. The installers will use a spray hose that dampens the fiber as it is fired into the wall cavity. This will establish an important balance — the cellulose must be damp enough to stick to the framing material, but not so wet that it causes settling or moisture issues. In addition, the installer will rake the cellulose to ensure it’s evenly distributed and to install more insulation where necessary. This can help homeowners save on their energy bills while ensuring the cellulose retains its R-value over time.
Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation is a unique product that is applied on site to fill nooks, crannies and cracks, creating a tight building envelope that increases energy efficiency. It also acts as a sound dampener and reduces moisture. This type of insulation is commonly used in new construction and pole barns, but can be sprayed into existing homes as well. It is available in open and closed cell varieties.
The first step in a spray foam insulation project is to remove any old insulation that exists in the area you want to be sprayed, or cover it with plastic. Then the crew will run a hose to the area that needs to be sprayed. This may be an attic, crawl space, or rim joist in an existing home; unfinished walls in new construction or pole barns; or concrete block walls. The spraying rigs have special technology inside to ensure that the foam is mixed and sprayed perfectly every time, and that it is the proper temperature for the job.
Closed cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) is a rigid insulator that provides an R-value of up to 6 per inch. It has many other benefits, including air barriers, mold resistance and vapor retarders. CcSPF can be sprayed into wall cavities, nooks and crannies and into crevices between wall studs. It can also be sprayed onto slabs and other surfaces. It comes in a variety of sizes and is delivered in eco-friendly drums that we give away to people once they are empty, turning them into quirk furniture.
Open cell spray polyurethane foam (ocSPF) is softer than closed-cell insulation and is flexible enough to conform to the surface on which it is being installed. It is an excellent choice for insulating attics and walls, repairing ductwork and filling in voids around plumbing and electrical fixtures. It is a popular choice for new construction as it can be installed during the rough-in stage to minimize air leakage.
The spray foam insulation industry is gradually changing over from the use of chlorofluorocarbons to a blowing agent called hydrofluoroolefin. This is less harmful to the environment, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1 or lower. It still has some off-gassing and requires a re-occupancy period of about two hours.
Mineral Wool
Mineral wool insulation, also known as rock wool or slag wool, is made from non-metallic, inorganic materials that offer thermal, fire and acoustic benefits. It can be produced at different densities to suit the performance requirements of various products. It can be loose granular material used as blown-in insulation installed in open cavities, or it can be shaped into rolls, batts and boards for installation to walls, attics, floors and ceilings. Mineral wool can also be shaped into specialty insulation products like insulation wraps or panels for pipes and air conditioning ducts.
Its insulating properties come from the fact that the fibers are dense and effectively restrict movement of air. It’s heavier than fiberglass, making it easier to cut with precision and install correctly to ensure an optimum seal. Its denser composition makes it a good sound-control product as well, providing a quieter interior environment. Mineral wool’s natural fire resistance qualities (it doesn’t require phenol formaldehyde, which is an irritating substance that is used in most foam plastic insulation) make it a better choice for commercial buildings than traditional fiberglass or polyisocyanurate.
The acoustic qualities of mineral wool, along with its ability to resist moisture, make it a popular choice for industrial settings. It helps reduce noise levels, creating a more comfortable working environment for employees. It’s also highly effective at reducing energy costs and ensuring optimal conditions for manufacturing processes.
Unlike many other insulation products, mineral wool can be recycled again and again with little impact on its performance. This is because the raw materials it uses can be reused for a variety of other applications, such as resin bonded panels, filler compounds for gaskets and brake pads and as a medium for hydroponic growth.
Its versatility means that mineral wool is a great choice for new homes as well as retrofit applications. It’s often paired with other insulation materials such as cellulose and fiberglass in wall assemblies to achieve optimal energy efficiency. This product can also help protect builders and homeowners from legal liability, as it’s an excellent fire protection insulator that can reduce the risk of insurance claims due to unsafe building practices and construction materials.
