When it comes to selecting insulation for your home, the options seem almost limitless. From blanket or batt insulation, mineral wools, foamed-in-place or spray-in-place insulation systems – you have numerous ways of approaching this process.
Internal wall insulation may be an option in older homes with solid walls; however, this may compromise floor space and does not always comply with Building Regulations regarding airtightness.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass insulation is an increasingly popular choice in homes, particularly for attics and walls. Fiberglass’ unique properties help minimize heat transfer between rooms by trapping pockets of air in walls; furthermore, this reduces air leaks that could otherwise compromise energy efficiency in a home.
Insulating material consists of plastic reinforced with tiny glass fibers. These glass pieces are then spun into batts varying in thickness; these thicknesses offer different R-values which measure how much heat the blanket can resist.
These blankets can be utilized in new construction as well as major remodeling projects, and are frequently rolled out on unfinished walls and the attic to fill gaps between wall studs. Kraft-faced or without facing, vapor barriers serve as vapor barriers as well as serving acoustical applications as acoustic insulation materials. Their major drawback, however, is that they cannot seal off odd nooks and crannies or address thermal bridging effectively.
Styrofoam
Styrofoam insulation can reduce energy costs up to twofold when compared with fiberglass batt insulation and offers much higher R-value per inch than loose-fill fiberglass insulation. Unfortunately, however, its durability is often compromised and its brittle nature makes it more challenging than other materials to work with; in addition, its large environmental footprint means more landfill space needs to be found for its disposal.
Under a microscope, white styrofoam used in disposable cups, fast food containers and packaging is revealed with gaps between its cells that allow air and moisture to pass through over time. Construction professionals prefer extruded polystyrene (EPS) insulation or XPS for their homes and buildings as it resists moisture damage to drywall and wood framing in wall cavities.
Foam-In-Place
Foam-in-place insulation (FIP) is an energy-efficient product made of polyurethane foam that is injected directly into wall cavities to fill them up, offering significant carbon emission reduction and cost savings compared with fiberglass and styrofoam insulation options.
Foam-in-place insulation is an ideal option for homes with shallow walls, fitting easily into modern two-by-four stud walls. More effective than kraft-faced fiberglass insulation and available with various R values, foam-in-place is often preferred over its alternatives.
Foam-in-place packaging is an effective solution for companies shipping fragile products. The foam material molds itself to each package’s shape, protecting against sharp edges and corners while simultaneously reducing weight and freight costs. Due to these advantages, foam-in-place is becoming increasingly popular among companies shipping these fragile goods around the globe; plus it’s 100% recyclable while using less material than alternative options when protecting goods against damages during transport.
Aerogel
Aerogel insulation is an amazing material that can be utilized in various settings. Due to its low mass and micropore size, aerogel makes for one of the most efficient insulators available compared to other forms of foam. Furthermore, aerogel’s translucent particles effectively disperse light for applications like museum-quality daylighting and architectural tensile roofing projects.
Hydrophobic properties make HydroLoft insulation resistant to mold or mildew growth, with no ongoing maintenance requirements whatsoever. Available as plastic-encased strips that are easy to attach, HydroLoft makes an excellent retrofitting choice for historic, period, and listed buildings where thicker insulation would alter their aesthetics.
Aerogel could become increasingly popular as an energy efficiency enhancer without increasing building wall thickness, leading to greater production which could in turn bring down costs.