What Types of Insulation Are Used in House Construction

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What a lovely feeling it is to keep warm, especially on a cold winter evening. There is absolutely no pleasure in the painful experience of trying to get out of bed because it is freezing. As such, it is important to take all sorts of measures against this intruding cold and make sure that no matter how loud the winds roar or how strong the windows rattle, your home will always be kept warm.

Luckily, there is such a thing as insulation and it works rather well. Insulation comes in different types and forms, each dedicated to a different use.

The Different Types of Insulation

There are different types of insulation materials, many of which are inexpensive. Depending on your requirements, you will have a lot of things to consider as each has its advantages and disadvantages. Ideally, you will want to consider things like price and effectiveness. You will also need to keep in mind things like R-value, flammability and the environmental impact. The R in R-value stands for resistance to heat flow. Naturally, the higher the R-value, the better that product is going to be. Here is what you need to know:

1. Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is an excellent insulator. It has a remarkably high R-value, which stands at 6.3 per inch. This type of insulator is exceptionally light, weighing as little as 2 pounds per cubic foot. Polyurethane foam materials are fire resistant and can also be sprayed in areas with no insulation. This can include windows. You can keep heat from escaping with foam insulation for your window frames, as the material will prevent air from leaking around the edges.

2. Cellulose

Made out of recycled cardboard and other similar materials, cellulose has been regarded as one of the most eco-friendly forms of insulation. It is also known to be a great product that works against fire hazards. This is because the loose form of insulation material is extremely compact, which is a feature that does not allow oxygen to enter. Naturally, no oxygen means no fire.

The R-value of this product ranges between 3.1 and 3.7, making it an effective insulating product. However, it is relatively difficult to install, with not many people being able to use this type of insulation. Also, due to the recycled materials like paper or newspapers, people can start developing an allergic reaction to cellulose.

3. Fibreglass

This is perhaps the most common type of insulation, with the product amassing great popularity in modern-day use. Fibreglass is very effective at doing its job and is relatively cheap. It is developed by weaving many strands of glass into an insulation material, which can prove to be dangerous when you are installing it into your house. Another trait that makes for its popularity is its excellent non-flammable feature. The R-value for fibreglass can go from 2.9 up to 3.8.

4. Mineral Wool

This insulation product comes in various forms, where it can be made out of glass wool, rock wool or its most popular form, slag wool. Each is made out of different compositions but they are all effective. However, they are not the most fire-resistant material on the market, as no additives are used on this product. For this reason, it is advisable to steer clear of using this product in areas of extreme heat. They have an R-value of 2.8, which can go up to 3.5.

5. Polystyrene

When you are looking to kill two birds with one stone, this is the material you will want to get. Apart from its obvious characteristic of being an excellent temperature insulator, it is also equally excellent in insulating sound. It is uniquely smooth and waterproof. However, it is flammable, which makes it a poor insulator for areas with extreme heat. Nonetheless, applying a fireproofing chemical will fix this little drawback. It has an R-value of 5.5.

With insulation products, there is no particular one that stands out as the best as it will depend on your needs. However, the most effective heat insulation product is, without a doubt, polystyrene. Still, foam does bring some very interesting characteristics, as it can be applied to windows and seal the edges. At the end of the day, if you are looking for something that is environmentally friendly, or something that is not flammable, or if you are on a budget and need a product that is cheap, you will find one that will work for you as long as you do your research and ask the right questions.