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Below
is information on Insulating your home and kinds of
insulation available.
Please note this is for informational purposes, we do not
sell insulation
Once you have located the areas
in your house requiring insulation, and have determined what R-value is needed,
you will need to decide what type to buy. Some types of insulation require
professional installation, and others you can install. You should consider the
several forms of insulation available, their R-values, and the thickness needed.
Remember, for a given type and weight of insulation, the thicker it is, the
higher its R-value.
Basic Forms of
Thermal Insulation
BLANKETS, in the form of batts or
rolls, are flexible products made from mineral fibers. They are available in
widths suited to standard spacings of wall studs and attic or floor joists.
Continuous rolls can be hand-cut and trimmed to fit. They are available with or
without vapor retarder facings. Batts with a special flame-resistant facing are
available in various widths for basement walls where the insulation will be left
exposed.
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BLOWN-IN loose-fill
insulation includes loose fibers or fiber pellets that are blown into
building cavities or attics using special pneumatic equipment. Another
form includes fibers that are co-sprayed with an adhesive to make them
resistant to settling. The blown-in material can provide additional
resistance to air infiltration if the insulation is sufficiently dense. |
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FOAMED-IN-PLACE polyurethane foam insulation can be applied by a
professional applicator using special equipment to meter, mix, and spray
into place. Polyurethane foam can also help to reduce air leaks. |
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RIGID INSULATION is made
from fibrous materials or plastic foams and is pressed or extruded into
board-like forms and molded pipe-coverings. These provide thermal and
acoustical insulation, strength with low weight, and coverage with few
heat loss paths. Such boards may be faced with a reflective foil that
reduces heat flow when next to an air space.
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REFLECTIVE
INSULATION SYSTEMS are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of
backings such as kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or
cardboard. The resistance to heat flow depends on the heat flow
direction, and this type of insulation is most effective in reducing
downward heat flow. Reflective systems are typically located between
roof rafters, floor joists, or wall studs. If a single reflective
surface is used alone and faces an open space, such as an attic, it is
called a RADIANT BARRIER. Radiant barriers are sometimes used in
buildings to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. They are more
effective in hot climates than in cool climates. All radiant barriers
must have a low emittance (0.1 or less) and high reflectance (0.9 or
more). |
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