Among
the most pressing necessities in building houses in temperate countries is
house insulation. This is due to the fact that temperate countries have extreme
conditions either in hot or cold weather.
Luckily,
the people living in these parts of the world have already made provisions in
combating the extremes in weather. This means that for houses, the insulation
should go between floors, between ceilings, and unheated attic, between walls,
inside and outside.
When
the insulation is inadequate, the heating or the cooling energy escapes through
the walls and roofs and in the floors. In keeping the energy inside, while
keeping the heating costs down, the need is to wrap all the living areas of the
house with the proper insulation.
Types
Insulation
and its materials are mostly defined by its R-value. The R-value of a material
is the heat that can pass through it. With a higher R-value, the insulating qualities
of the material are good.
These
types of insulation are available in blankets, batts, and loose-fill insulating
materials. (Blankets and batts have facings that also serve as vapor barrier.)
All
the materials used in insulation have their own intrinsic R-values. However,
these materials are varied and different in terms of easy of installation,
flammability and others, aside from its R-values.
The
following are the different insulation types and the things to consider about
them should you need to choose which of them to use.
Fiberglass
As
the more popular insulating material today, fiberglass comes in batts, in rolls
(blankets) and in pellets for loose-fill applications. They are relatively
inexpensive. They are also easy to install as well as a good fire resistant
material.
They
have better materials for good vapor barrier and it is available in unfaced
versions. Some minor complaints include the fact that it is a minor skin
irritant when handled, and that it develops an odor when dampened.
Rock wool
Rock
wool has the same qualities as fiberglass, including its cost and R-value. Like
fiberglass, it can also irritate the skin when handled without protection.
However, it does not have a smell when dampened.
Cellulose
This
material is also fire resistant like fiberglass and rockwool. Instead, it has a
higher R-value and does not irritate the skin like the other two popular
insulation materials. Cellulose comes in rolls, batts and loose-fill.
It
has a fine consistency that lets its being blown-in during installation through
small access holes.
Urethane
Urethane
is known to be a foam-in type of insulating material which is very effective
when installed properly. Further, it has a high R-value, and is fire resistant.
In addition, it has excellent sound absorbing qualities.
As a
foam-in, it fills in any cavity where it is injected. (The equipment to be used
is quite expensive, however.) These are just some of the materials (the popular
ones) used in insulating your house, should you decide to build one.
Choosing
the materials for use in your home insulation should have the following
qualities – good thermal performance (R-value), long life, fire safety,
moisture control, air infiltration and good environmental benefits.
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