Insulation Materials and Types Comparison

Today we’ll be looking at insulation materials comparison for three different types of home insulation and understanding the uses of each.

When it comes to choosing the material you want to insulate your home, there are several important factors like cost, efficiency, climate, performance, and lifespan.

Cellulose, fiberglass, mineral wool, denim, extruded polystyrene rigid foam, polyurethane spray foam, and more have some differences between them regarding their effectiveness and location of insulation needed.

How Insulation Materials Affects R-Value

It’s very important to know beforehand where you will need to install insulation and the R-Values for the area which needs to insulate.

The main factor is called the R-Value. This is a common measurement system which indicates the resistance to heat transfer all through the home.

The higher the R-value, the better since this measurement is usually defined for a one-inch thickness of insulation. For example, if the insulation has an R-Value of 4.0 per inch, a 4-inch thick material of that insulation would have a total R-Value of R-16.

This comes from 4.0 per inch X the 4-inch material of insulation.

For more information about R-Value visit: https://www.greatdayimprovements.com/insulation-r-value-chart.aspx

Reach for These Materials

Not every type of insulation can be installed by the homeowner. Fiberglass blankets are easy to install if you wear long sleeves and a mask, the other types of materials will need to be installed by a professional.

Now, let’s go over the most common materials used for insulation. The first type is blankets which can come in batts or rolls. These can come in a material made of fiberglass, mineral wool, and plastic or natural fibers.

These are used in unfinished walls, including foundation walls. Also, floors and ceilings can use blankets to insulate. Easily installed between studs, joists, and beams, blankets are the ultimate ‘do-it-yourself’ project, as the cost is relatively lower than other methods.

For more information about insulation products you can install yourself visit: www.homedepot.com/s/insulation?NCNI-5

Types of Insulation Materials:

Concrete Block Insulation

Next, we will take a look at concrete block insulation. Best practice is spray foam or rigid foam boards which are placed on the outside of the wall in new constructions or inside in existing homes.

Usually installed in unfinished or foundation walls, this installation method requires specialized skills.

Foam Boards

There are also foam boards made of polystyrene or other poly-like materials which can be used almost anywhere in the home as long as there is ½-inch of gypsum board or other building-code approved material for fire safety.

This method has a relatively high insulation value for it’s smaller thickness.

Blow-In Insulation

Next on our list of insulation materials are blown-in components. These come in variations of fiberglass, mineral wool, and (what Green Attic specializes in) cellulose insulation.

Enclosed existing walls, open wall cavities, unfinished attic floors, and other hard-to-reach places are a great place for these loose-fill materials to do their job. It is blown into place using specialized equipment, and sometimes can be poured in.

Blown-in insulation really shines when added to existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas, and around obstructions.

Green Attic Insulation Experts

For more information about cellulose insulation and insulation materials comparison, visit our blog post: https://www.greenattic.com/blogs/insulation-cost-compare-4-types-of-materials-rvalue

There’s a lot to learn about the different types of insulation, but it is necessary to understand each to get the job done right. We are here to help, insulation is what we do best.