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Below is information on Insulating
your home and kinds of insulation available.
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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