Insulation plays an essential role in providing comfort and energy efficiency, with insulation helping regulate temperatures and reduce drafts. Roof and ceiling insulation alone cannot do it alone – walls also play a part. When applied appropriately, insulation helps regulate temperatures and reduce drafts.
Foils, films or papers installed between wall studs, rafters or beams; also available in bubble form to accommodate irregular framing or obstructions.
Choosing the right material
While most of your thermal energy can be lost or gained through your roof and ceiling, walls also play a vital role. Insulated wall boards will help regulate temperatures while protecting from moisture issues in areas where condensation occurs. Having enough insulation on these walls is key in order to keep you warm while also helping protect from moisture problems that might otherwise arise from being in contact with condensation-prone conditions.
Insulating strength of materials is measured by their R-value; the higher its R-value is, the better it performs. You can find R-values printed on rolls of insulation in hardware stores; for maximum energy savings it’s beneficial to exceed minimum R-value requirements set by NCC and BASIX.
Wall insulation products vary, from blankets and boards to spray foam that can be injected or sprayed on, offering resistance against air and water intrusion. Some types of foam insulation are DIY friendly; other varieties require professional installation. Foam insulation comes in closed-cell (high density cells filled with gas) or open-cell forms – with either offering resistance against air or water intrusion. Both options lack fire ratings but do offer resistance against intrusion by air or water.
Thermophysical properties
Physical properties of insulation materials are of vital importance, particularly their Specific Heat Capacity (SHC). SHC measures how much energy it takes to raise one kilogram by one Kelvin (1oC), so good insulators possess high SHC ratings, allowing them to retain internal fortuitous heat and prevent its transference quickly.
Vapour Permeability and Density of an Insulator should also be given careful consideration. Vapour permeability refers to how easily water vapour passes through an insulator; it is particularly crucial in environments with high levels of humidity.
Cellulose insulation is an attractive choice due to its high R-value and sustainability, being created from recycled paper products shredded into small pieces before being fibreised into insulation material. Available as sheets for cutting to fit between wood-frame studs or loose fill form that can be blown in with special equipment, as well as foamed-in-place forms for ducts, it typically boasts higher R-value per inch of thickness than fiberglass insulation.
Vapour control
Thermal insulation helps to decrease heat movements and vapor condensation within walls, thus preventing humid environments such as humidity, mold growth, rot, deformed iron parts and weakening concrete structures. Furthermore, insulation helps preserve buildings as well as ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
Thermal bulk insulation can be added to an existing home without disrupting daily life, eliminating the need to remove fixtures such as radiators or plug sockets from daily life. This process makes installation much less disruptive for residents.
Vapour control is essential when insulate existing homes or building new houses in areas with mixed climate (high humidity). When temperatures are both cold and warm indoors, water vapor diffuses into wall cavities through open doors or windows and causes mould, rot or damage to interior plaster or drywall surfaces.
To avoid this from occurring, it is highly advised to install a smart vapor retarder such as Membrain before placing insulation into your wall. This smart vapor retarder responds to changes in relative humidity by allowing moisture to escape when it becomes hot and dry during winter or cold and humid during summer, helping avoid issues with mould growth or structural timber deterioration.
Noise reduction
Due to concerns over noise pollution, many homeowners opt to install acoustic insulation in their home as an effective means of controlling noise pollution. While thermal bulk insulation helps mitigate some noise pollution levels, acoustic insulation has been specifically developed to block and absorb sound; typically used in laundries, bedrooms and offices.
If you’re building a new house, structural insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete blocks may be worth considering as ways to reduce thermal bridging through timber studs while increasing overall wall R-value.
In older homes, consider timber battens equipped with a vapour protection membrane fixed directly to their faces and then covered by plasterboard for an easy and quick installation that will achieve U-values. It is also possible to use thermal laminate as an alternative; this method has similar effects but requires you to treat timber studs to avoid moisture penetration that could result in timber rot.