There are Many Options for House Insulation

There are many options for your house insulation. In the end, it will be a personal preference which type of insulation you will use in your home. It would not be unusual to utilize at least two different kinds of insulation. Each type is preferable for a area or conditions that an area will be exposed to. Some of the choices are; Cellulose insulation, fiberglass insulation, spray insulation, foil insulation, foam insulation and rock wool to name the most common types. All thermal insulation is measured in R-values. The higher the R-value the better the insulating efficiency. If your home is older than 1985 and has not had the insulation upgraded, it most probably needs it.

By adding insulation in the attic, to walls, floors, basements and crawl spaces you may improve your home's energy efficiency. First, check to see if the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces meet the recommended levels for your area. Your local building codes will give you the recommend R-value to use as a guideline. I suggest that you try to exceed those recommendations by at least ten percent. This is an investment. The extra insulation cost today will be returned to you over and over again in energy cost savings.

Insulation is made from a variety of materials. It usually comes in five forms - bats, rolls, loose-fill, spray-in foam and rigid foam boards. Each type of insulation has its own purpose and application. Bats are made to fit snugly between the studs or ceiling joist. They are inexpensive besides that they do not sag or shrink and so it is ideal for use in those places. Rolls are just bats that did not get cut into short lengths. Rigid foam may be a little more expensive but the R-value is higher for each inch of thickness. Loose fill is fine for the ceiling but I would not use elsewhere. Spray foam is great for applying where you are trying to seal up cracks and holes. One of the great features is, you do not need vapour barrier because the foam expands and works better than normal vapour barrier. If there are drafts around the electrical outlets, door jams or window frames treat this by injecting expanding foam. It can be purchased in small do-it yourself dispensers.

Points of caution: · 1/ Do not block vents with insulation· 2/ Keep insulation three inches or more from recessed lighting· 3/ Make sure the attic is vented· 4/ Remember the vapour barrier goes on the warm side of the wall
Always follow instructions!!!

About the Author: Jim Stewart has been involved with home construction and improvement for over 40 years as a tradesman, contractor and site supervisor and has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. Jim is a student of the industry and gladly passes on what he has learned. Jim is now the also the publisher of http://www.best-kitchens.com/ and http://www.Basement-Central.com/
Jim can be contacted at Homes42005@yahoo.com

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