Home Insulation
By keeping your heat in your home longer, home insulation can keep your energy bills from getting too high. This type of insulation comes in fiberglass, foam and cellulose. It is placed inside the walls, in the floor and rafters of the attic, under floorboards and in the walls and floors of the basement. The insulation absorbs the heat, providing a resistance to slow the movement of the heat to the outside. The resistance is measured by using an R value, and the higher the R value, the more resistance is provided which results in better energy efficiency.
Batt or Roll Type Insulation
Batt and roll insulation is meant to be installed between studs in the walls and joists and beams in ceilings and floors. It comes in fiberglass and rock wool blankets. These types of insulation work well when the walls are not yet finished such as in new construction or an addition. It is probably not the best insulation to use if you have obstructions in your wall or ceiling because it would have to be cut and fitted, and there are better alternatives.
Blown In Insulation
This is a loose fill or a sprayed in insulation. This type of insulation works much better for homes that are finished and don't have insulation or not enough insulation. It comes in fiberglass, rock wool and polyurethane foam. It is normally blown in from the attic into the wall unless there is not access. If that is the case then a hole is cut into the wall under the siding and the insulation is blown in from there. This is the best type of insulation to use for those hard-to-reach or irregular-shaped places.
Rigid Insulation
This insulation comes in an extruded and expanded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and polyisocyanurate foam boards. Some come with a foil face that acts as a vapor barrier. The most common use of this type of insulation is on exterior walls under the siding. It provides a good insulation for being very thin. It can be used indoors but must have gypsum board installed to cover it for fire safety. Care should be taken as to manufacturer and building code requirements for using this type of insulation inside.
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