House Insulation - Necessity

These days, the need for full house insulation has become a necessity especially for those about to have one constructed. If you are buying one, and the house is more than 15 years old, and you want to do some renovation work, you need to consider insulating the whole house.

The U.S. Department of Energy has stated that the use of energy today have gone mostly in heating and cooling houses. This is happening because there are still many houses that have their walls, floors and ceilings under-insulated.

When the insulation of the house is inadequate, the heating energy escapes through the walls and ceilings and in interstices and joints that builds up though time. You can only know this when you get your energy bills.

R-value

Insulation is governed by the R-values of the materials you use. The R-value is the heat that passes through it. With a higher value, the material has greater insulating qualities. Each material type has its own R-value.

The insulating quality of these materials becomes evident when they are used. However, each of them comes in a variety of types and makes (batts, blankets, loose fill, and rigid forms). For home owners, there are other qualities that also matter. Foremost is cost, ease of installation, flammability in balance with their pronounced R-value.

Insulation types

The needs of insulation are defined entirely by its R-value. The R-value of a material is the heat that passes through it. With a higher R-value, the greater are the insulating qualities of the material. Insulation is available in blankets, batts, and loose-fill. (Batts and blankets sometimes have an attached facing which serves as a vapor barrier.)

The materials for insulation that are available to homeowners have their own R-values. However, these materials are also varied and different in many ways. They are different in terms of ease of installation, flammability and others, and not just on their R-values.

The following are both popular, although there are more than ten types to choose from depending on the needs of your house (and what your contractor will suggest.)

Fiberglass

This very popular insulating material comes in batts, in rolls (blankets) and in pellets for loose-fill applications. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. It is also fire resistant, although the paper facing in some batt and rolls are not.

Fiberglass insulation resists heat flow. This heat energy is the one that flows out of the home in the winter and gets inside homes during summer.

Rock wool

This material has almost the same identical qualities of fiberglass, although it is made of slag rather than glass. The R-value is almost the same and the cost is also along the same level.

It is nearly the same, including its cost and R-value. Like fiberglass, however, rock wool can also irritate the skin when directly handled. The consolation is that rock wool (unlike fiberglass) does not develop a smell when wet.

House insulation is of utmost importance even if you choose materials other than these popular two.