Types of Insulation
| Type | Material | Where Applicable | Installation Methods | Advantages |
| Blanket: batts and rolls | Fiberglass Mineral (rock or slag) wool P ... | Unfinished walls, including foundation w ... | Fitted between studs, joists, and beams. | Do-it-yourself. Suited for standard stud ... |
| Concrete block insulation and insulating ... | Foam board, to be placed on outside of w ... | Unfinished walls, including foundation w ... | Require specialized skills Insulating co ... | Insulating cores increases wall R-value. |
| Foam board or rigid foam | Polystyrene Polyisocyanurate Polyurethan ... | Unfinished walls, including foundation w ... | Interior applications: must be covered w ... | High insulating value for relatively lit ... |
| Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) | Foam boards or foam blocks | Unfinished walls, including foundation w ... | Installed as part of the building struct ... | Insulation is literally built into the h ... |
What are the best types of insulation for your home?
Types Of Insulation: Fiberglass. Fiberglass is made of extremely fine glass fibers and is the most popular insulation material in America. This is the material you’ll find in rolls and batts of insulation. It is cheap compared to other insulations. Fiberglass works so well because the fibers are fine and tightly wound.
Which type of insulation is right for your home?
Types of Insulation
- Blanket Insulation. Blanket insulation is made from a variety of materials that may include fiberglass, plastic and rock wool.
- Foam Boards. Foam boards are generally used for exterior wall sheathing. ...
- Liquid Spray Foam. Liquid spray foam insulation is made of polyurethane which is in a liquid spray foam. ...
- Loose-Fill Insulation. ...
What are the different types of Home Insulation?
Types of Soundproof Insulation Material
- Fiberglass. Fiberglass is a very common material in the United States, and it’s perhaps the most commonly used material in insulation.
- Cellulose. Cellulose is often used as an alternative to fiberglass. ...
- Mineral Wool. ...
- Cork. ...
- Polyurethane Foam. ...
- Polystyrene Foam. ...
- Soundproof Drywall. ...
What types of materials can be used for insulation?
Types of insulation materials of cables:
- Nylon
- Polyurethane
- Plastic insulation
- Glass
- Teflon
- Paper
What type of insulation is used in Denver?
Types of Insulation. Icynene plastic insulation blown into the walls of a home near Denver. Icynene fills cracks and crevices and adheres to the framing. When insulating your home, you can choose from many types of insulation.
What is blanket insulation made of?
You also can find batts and rolls made from mineral (rock and slag) wool, plastic fibers, and natural fibers, such as cotton and sheep's wool.
What is ICF foam?
ICF systems consist of interconnected foam boards or interlocking, hollow-core foam insulation blocks. Foam boards are fastened together using plastic ties. Along with the foam boards, steel rods (rebar) can be added for reinforcement before the concrete is poured.
What is foam board?
Foam board, to be placed on outside of wall (usually new construction) or inside of wall (existing homes): Some manufacturers incorporate foam beads or air into the concrete mix to increase R-values. Unfinished walls, including foundation walls. New construction or major renovations.
Can concrete block walls be insulated?
Concrete block walls are typically insulated or built with insulating concrete blocks during new home construction or major renovations. Block walls in existing homes can be insulated from the inside. Go to insulation materials for more information about the products commonly used to insulate concrete block.
Can insulation be significantly affected by application?
Ask contractors about their experience in installing the product you are considering. The application can significantly impact the insulation’s performance .
Can you put insulation in a blanket?
The maximum thermal performance or R-value of insulation is very dependent on proper installation. Homeowners can install some types of insulation -- notably blankets, boards, and materials that can be poured in place. (Liquid foam insulation materials can be poured, but they require professional installation). Other types require professional installation.
Spray Foam Insulation
Most homeowners are familiar with spray foam insulation. It’s likely in your attic, crawl space, or around any door frames, especially in older homes where gaps and leaks have formed. Gaps and leaks are an excellent use case for spray foam insulation.
Foam Board or Rigid Board Insulation
Foam board insulation is the stiff foam boards that are installed between studs in unfinished walls. Particularly, this would be installed in your foundation or basement walls and any floors or ceilings when they’re built. This type of insulation is essential to limiting heat conduction throughout your home’s structure.
Reflective Insulation
Reflective or radiant barrier insulation works a little differently and isn’t actually measured by R-values. Best for hotter climates, reflective insulation works by, you guessed it, reflecting heat away from your home. It does this by using a reflective or radiant barrier (typically a type of aluminum foil), to bounce any direct heat away.
Blanket Insulation
Blanket batts and rolls are quite similar to foam boards, but they are made of fiberglass and are much more flexible than rigid foam boards. It’s probably one of the most common DIY-friendly and affordable options for homeowners. However, the one key thing to note is the fiberglass is highly irritant to skin, eyes, and lungs.
Loose-Fill Insulation
Loose-fill insulation is one of the most popular types, and you’ve probably seen it in many homes. It has a low R-value at just 0.44 per inch, but that doesn’t mean you should discount it.
Fiber Insulation
Fiber insulation is a type of loose-fill that’s made from recycled materials like wool, wood fibers, or cotton. The R-value for fiberboard insulation is 0.79 to 0.99 per inch, and it can work great in attics where the airflow isn’t quite as high because of its density, so it fills up the desired space much more than other types.
Concrete Block Insulation
Concrete block insulation is a newer type of home energy-saving material that’s gaining popularity. It works by filling the air gaps between between foam insulation as you stack them up on top of each other. While concrete block insulation.
What type of insulation is used for unfinished walls?
INSULATION TYPE: Blanket Batts and Rolls. Best for: Do-it-yourself insulation of unfinished walls, floors, and ceilings. Blanket batts and rolls are typically constructed with fiberglass, although versions made of cotton, mineral wool, sheep’s wool, and plastic fibers are also available. Installing this type of insulation is an inexpensive ...
What is insulation in a home?
Insulation is a vital component in any home that seeks to be energy-efficient. Typically placed in areas where air escapes, such as between the stud cavities inside the walls and in the attic, it serves to slow and reduce heat transfer. By sealing air leaks and adding proper insulation to the attic, crawl spaces, and basement, ...
What is foam board insulation?
Foam boards work well to insulate everything from foundation walls and basement walls to unfinished floors and ceilings.
How many homes do not have insulation?
Still, approximately 90 percent of single-family homes in the U.S. do not have sufficient insulation, according to 2015 research by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. Not only does poor insulation waste energy and increase energy bills for these buildings, it also disrupts your family’s comfort level by allowing drafts ...
Where to put radiant barriers in attic?
Homeowners in warmer climates typically place reflective or radiant barriers in the attic between joists, rafters, and beams, since the attic is where most heat enters a home. Installation here, too, can be done without a professional.
Can you spray polyurethane in place?
When insulating a larger area, homeowners can use a pressure sprayed (foamed-in-place) option . Spray foam comes in two constructions: open-cell foam or denser closed-cell foam.
Insulation Type 1: Batts And Rolls Blanket Insulation
Batt insulation is one of the most widely used insulation types. It comes in batts or rolls that are pre-cut or can be cut in order to fill unfinished:
Insulation Type 2: Concrete Block Insulation
If you want to build a high R-value house insulation, you usually start with concrete block insulation. As with any concrete blocks, these ones are used to build the house foundation and walls. Construction-wise, however, you may determine that the cores of some concrete blocks don’t need to provide additional support.
Insulation Type 3: Rigid Foam Or Foam Boards
Rigid foam boards are perfect to put on top of existing walls, ceilings, or floors. They are basically big thick panels with very high R-values that you can use pretty much anywhere, including:
Insulation Type 4: Insulating Concrete Walls Forms (ICFs)
These are, in essence, poured concrete walls that can add up to R-20 insulation value to the walls themselves. Basically, standard walls don’t really provide that much insulation. That’s why these high thermal resistance concrete walls are used in order to prop up R-values and lower heating and air conditioning costs.
Insulation Type 5: Blown-In Insulation And Loose-Fill Insulation
The more insulation, the better is usually the rule. That’s why we build houses with insulation in mind. However, there are empty air pockets that can either stay empty (and provide no insulation) or be filled with insulation (providing additional R-values).
Insulation Type 6: Radiant Barrier Insulation
A radiant barrier is a specific type of insulation. We don’t have R-values here because we don’t use a radiant barrier to reduce heat conduction. We use a radiant barrier to significantly reduce radiant heat; that is heat generated by radiation (essentially, this is light).
Insulation Type 7: Rigid Fiber Board Insulation
This is a special HVAC insulation, mostly used for insulating ductwork. As you might imagine, the air in the ducts can be either cold (air conditioning in the summer) or hot (heating in the winter). Adequately insulating ductwork can significantly increase the effectiveness of heating/cooling.
What is the most commonly used insulation material?
Fiberglass is one of the most commonly used types of insulation material. It is made of fine glass fibers that are either spun or blown to create boards, rolls, loose-fill, and batts insulation. Most manufacturers use around 40% to 60% recycled glass.
What is the Best Type of Insulation?
Technically, there is no “best” type of insulation. All the various forms come with perks and downsides, and each is suited for different purposes. The final decision on what type of insulation would work best for your home is dependent on where you live, what parts of the house you’re insulating, your budget, and whether you are constructing your home or it’s already constructed.
How does radiant barrier insulation work?
Reflective insulation and radiant barrier insulation work by reflecting heat, unlike most other insulation materials that work by resisting heat flow. For the same reason, this type of insulation does not have its own R-value. As a result, you can install it to cool your attics, limiting summer heat gains and lowering your cooling costs.
What is spray foam insulation?
Spray foam insulation allows you to cover more surface area and gives you easy access to hard-to-reach areas. It effectively seals any cracks or gaps in your home and reduces airflow, cutting back heat loss. This type of insulation has two common forms – open-cell (less dense and filled with air) and closed-cell (high-density cells and filled with gas). It’s commonly used on walls, attic surfaces, under floors, or even below a roof.
What is loose fill insulation made of?
Loose-fill insulation is most commonly made of fiberglass, cellulose, or mineral wool. It is sold in bags and mostly requires special equipment to be blown into the building cavities.
What is the R value of insulation?
R-value of different insulation types helps determine its overall resistance to conductive heat flow. The greater the R-value of the insulation material, the more effective it is. R-value recommendations can vary based on your climate and location.
What is liquid spray foam?
Liquid spray foam insulation is sprayed, poured, foamed-in or injected as a liquid that expands and hardens to fill the available space. It is more costly than other types of insulation but has a higher R-value and saves you money on some weatherizing tasks such as caulking.
How Insulation Works
Insulation decreases the amount of heat entering from outside when it’s hot, and traps warmth inside when it’s cold. Insulation is rated by its R-value. R-value measures how resistant types of insulation are to heat flow. R-values vary based on the type, thickness and density of the insulation material.
How Much Insulation Do You Need?
To get an idea how much insulation is needed to cover your house, check if your home is already insulated. Then measure the area needing insulation and determine which type of insulation is best.
Types of Insulation
R-value requirements also vary based on the spot in your home in which the insulation is installed. When it comes to the best insulation for walls, the insulation material can also impact the R-values needed for good energy efficiency.
Loose Fill Insulation
Loose-fill insulation, also known as blown-in insulation, is blown or sprayed into place with special equipment. You can rent an insulation blowing machine to install this insulation yourself, but most choose to leave this installation to professionals.
Insulation Batts
Batt insulation is a type of insulation blanket. These are pre-cut sections of insulation that are usually fiberglass, although cellulose, mineral wool, natural fibers and plastic versions are also available.
Rolled Insulation
Rolled insulation is another type of insulation blanket similar to batt insulation. The main difference between insulation batts and rolls is that batts are installed in pieces, while rolls are rolled out between wall and ceiling framing.
Foam Board Insulation
Foam board or insulating boards are rigid panels of insulation that have a high R-value. Because they have a high R-value and can be used nearly anywhere in your home, foam board insulation is one of the most common types of insulation.
What is the most environmentally friendly insulation material?
Cellulose is perhaps the most environmentally friendly insulation material you can buy. It is made of almost entirely recycled newspaper. A challenge with cellulose , however, is that it only comes in the form of loose fill – with means it is not bound together in batts or rolls for easy application. Cellulose needs to be blown in using an applicator, which would most likely require professional assistance. Cellulose is also highly flammable due to its makeup, but it is good for areas that already have insulation for an extra boost.
What is fiberglass insulation?
Fiberglass is a material made from recycled glass fibers and polyester, and is the most commonly used form of insulation. It is usually sold in standard sizes (or batts) to fit in wall spacing and tends to be cheaper than the other materials. Due to the make of the material, there is a risk of the glass fibers causing discomfort when in contact with skin. During application, it is important to have your skin completely covered, and even wearing a face mask to prevent lung damage.
What is spray foam insulation?
Polyurethane foam, often referred to as “spray foam,” is made from colorless thermoplastic, and is sprayed directly on the area to be insulated. During application, it is important that no one occupies the area for a certain amount of time after application due to chemicals in the air. It is a lightweight and fire resistant and is very effective at insulation – when installed properly. It is difficult to know how much should be sprayed on and how to properly apply so that it won’t contract and peel off, so it is recommended to have a professional apply this type of material.
Why is insulation important?
There are many reasons to get to know the types of insulation available- when used properly, efficient insulation can reduce energy loss in your home and even decrease your energy bill.
How should a home be insulated?
For optimal energy efficiency, your home should be properly insulated from the roof down to its foundation. The illustration above shows all the areas of the home where there should be insulation. The numbered areas shown in the illustration are as follows:
How to add insulation to exterior walls?
In an existing home, consider using blow-in insulation, which, when installed with the dense pack technique, will provide a higher R-value. It can be added to exterior walls without much disturbance to finished areas of your home. If you’re remodeling and your wall cavities will be open, look into two-part spray foam or wet spray cellulose insulation. If your wall cavities are not going to be open, you could consider injectable spray foam insulation. If you’ll be doing the work yourself, blanket (batt and roll) insulation, while not capable of providing an air seal as and two-part spray foam will, may be an affordable option.
What to consider when building a house with radon?
If radon is an issue where you live, you’ll also need to consider radon and radon-resistant construction techniques as you research foundation insulation options. In addition, if you live in an area with termites, you’ll have to consider how termite protection will affect the choice and placement of insulation in your home and plan for a means of inspection.
When insulating floors above unconditioned garages, first seal all possible sources of air leakage.?
When insulating floors above unconditioned garages, first seal all possible sources of air leakage. This strategy has the added benefit of minimizing the danger of contaminants (from car exhaust, paint, solvents, gardening supplies, etc.) in the garage migrating into the conditioned space. Also install an air barrier to prevent cold air in the garage from "short circuiting" the insulation underneath the subfloor.
What is foam sheathing?
Foam sheathing: Provides a continuous layer of insulation, which reduces thermal bridging through wood studs, saving energy and improving comfort. Is easier to cut and install than heavier sheathing products. Protects against condensation on the inside wall by keeping the interior of the wall warmer.
Why do you need fire rated insulation in basement walls?
Here are a few things to consider when installing interior basement wall insulation: Many insulation types require a fire-rated covering because they release toxic gases when ignited.
What to do if ducts are in a new house?
If you’re building a new house, place ducts in the conditioned space to avoid the energy losses associated with most duct systems.
What Is Insulation?
Insulation is a material that is used to prevent heat from escaping or entering a space. It is typically made of fiberglass, cellulose, wool, or foam. Insulation can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on the type of space it will be used in.
Why Is Insulation Important?
There are many reasons why insulation is important. First, insulation helps to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This can save you money on your energy bills, as you will not have to use as much heat or air conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is one of the most popular types of insulation, it’s made from finely ground glass fibers and is usually available in batts or rolls. Fiberglass is a good all-around insulation material and can be used in nearly any part of your home, including walls, ceilings, attics, and floors.
Foam Insulation
Foam insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation on the market today. It is made from a variety of materials, including polystyrene, polyurethane, and fiberglass. Many sites covered the topic of why foam insulation is the best, some of those sites include American Foam Experts, Which, Global Spec, and others.
Wool Type Insulation
There are many different types of insulation on the market today, and it can be confusing to try and figure out which one is right for your home. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option that will also help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, wool insulation may be the perfect choice for you.
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation on the market today. It is made from recycled paper products and is treated with fire retardants to make it safer to use in your home. Cellulose insulation has a high R-value, which means it is very effective at keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
