How do I Choose Building Insulation?

Building insulation comes in several forms.

Insulation is a important part of any home or building and is installed in the walls, attic and other open spaces. In the winter, insulation prevents heat inside the home from escaping through the roof and walls, thus making the inside warmer. In the summer, insulation prevents hot air from seeping inside through the attic or walls. There are a variety of insulation types available and choosing one can be confusing. However, there are some factors to consider that will make it easier.

Instructions

1. Look up the area that you live in on the chart in the Resources section to determine the R-value of insulation that you need. The R-value is the "resistance to heat flow" and is on the front of every insulation package. It is perfectly fine to purchase a higher R-value than needed, but never purchase a lower one.

2. Buy rolled fiberglass insulation if you are installing it in the attic or other easily accessible flat area. This is one of the easiest insulations to install and most homeowners can do it themselves.

3. Hire an insulation professional to install blown fiberglass insulation if you are insulating the interior of walls, ceilings or floors that are not easily accessible. The blown variety can easily penetrate all areas of the inner wall and do not require excessive damage to the wall to install.

4. Install rigid foam board insulation if you are insulating an attic ceiling or a vertical wall. These boards are sheets of various sizes and can be several inches thick. They adhere to the surface well using nails.

5. Purchase fiberglass insulation instead of cellulose insulation if you live in a fire-prone area. Fiberglass is not combustible and does not burn easily, while cellulose insulation, which is made of paper, burns quickly.

6. Select cellulose insulation if you want to be environmentally friendly since it is often made of recycled newspaper. In addition, cellulose insulation does not cause breathing problems if inhaled like fiberglass insulation does.

References

• Simply Insulate: What Kind Of Insulation Should I Choose?
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Insulating a New House (Do It Right the First Time)
• Mother Earth News: How To Choose the Best Insulation for Your Home

Resources

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Insulation R Values