When insulating your home, you can select from several types of insulation. Your best choice depends on where you want to put the insulation, and the R-values that are recommended for the area you want to insulate. The main types of insulation are blanket, rigid board, loose fill and liquid foam.
Blanket
Blanket insulation comes in batts or rolls. Batts are sections that are pre-cut into 4-foot or 8-foot lengths, and rolls come in lengths of up to 64 feet. The batts or rolls are made with specific widths so that they fit precisely into the standard distance between studs in wood framing. The most common types of blanket insulation are fiberglass and mineral wool.
Rigid Board
Rigid board insulation is made of plastic foam or fiber material that is pressed together. Common materials are polystyrene, urethane and glass fiber. Rigid board typically has a higher R value than other types of insulation and has structural strength. The disadvantage is its flammability. For construction, most foam boards must be used with an additional covering, such as one-half inch of gypsum wallboard, to act as fire protection.
Loose Fill
Loose fill insulation is a good choice when the area you want to insulate is hard to reach or an odd shape. The small particles of the loose fill may be cellulose, fiberglass, mineral wool, perlite or vermiculite. Loose fills can be blown in or poured in from bags. They flow well into nooks and crannies, and generally fill up an awkward space. Cellulose loose fill is often made from recycled newsprint.
Liquid Foam
Liquid foam insulation, usually urethane, can be injected or sprayed into cavities within walls, roofs or floors. The advantage of liquid foam is that it has high R values - generally twice as high as blanket insulation. Once applied, it expands and sets. The time it takes to set can be as quick as one minute; or it can be purposely slow curing, so that it can flow around obstacles before it expands and sets. Since liquid foam installation often requires certification and special equipment, it's best to hire a professional installer. After it sets, it shrinks a small amount. This happens slowly over a period of several weeks. When the liquid foam is properly applied, the shrinkage is less than 5 percent.
Considerations
Some things to consider when installing insulation are:
- The total R value of your insulation will be determined by how well it is installed.
- Depending on the placement and purpose of your insulation, you may need to also have a facing surface added to provide a vapor barrier, air barrier or fire protection.
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