Insulating your roof and ceiling will reduce energy use and save money on heating and cooling costs. When selecting insulation products that meet the R-value recommendations for your design and climate zone, make sure that R is included as part of its name.
Insulation should also provide some measure of sound reduction. Icynene spray foam insulation reduces both airborne noise and “flanking” noise (sounds such as flushing toilets and running water). It is applied in between ceiling joists and rim joists for maximum effectiveness.
Benefits
Insulating your ceiling is an economical and energy efficient solution that will improve both efficiency and comfort in both new and existing homes. Insulation reduces heat loss in winter and gain in summer, helping your home or building maintain an ideal temperature all year round. Furthermore, insulation can reduce noise pollution and ventilation problems and even help lower noise pollution during renovation projects. Insulation should always be considered when upgrading an existing home to keep energy costs under control.
Traditional blanket insulation comes in rolls or packages and must be rolled over ceiling joists to be effective. Options for facing and vapor barriers may or may not be included with purchase; alternatively cellulose, glass wool or rock wool products may also be purchased with various R-values for easier application.
Soundstuff can absorb sound and reduce flanking noise produced by running water or TV’s, as well as help minimize airborne pollutants like dirt, radon, smoke and mold. To select an R-value that meets your requirements and ensure that both roof and wall cavities are adequately sealed.
Installation
Insulation helps protect homes against external pollutants like dirt, radon and smoke which compromise indoor air quality, improving energy efficiency and decreasing ecological grievances. Furthermore, insulation helps save money on water consumption as well as cooling costs during summer. Furthermore, ceiling insulation improves sound reduction performance of the home.
Installation can range from straightforward to challenging depending on the type of insulation chosen; therefore it’s wise to conduct an initial check of existing insulation before beginning a project – such as checking moisture levels or noting signs of discoloration, brittleness or other changes in material quality.
If the old insulation remains, it should be removed. When using either spray foam or batt insulation, personal protection equipment including eye covers, face masks and body covers to protect clothing is needed for the task. Start from the eaves and work your way towards the center, taking care to keep wires and receptacles out of your way as you go.
Materials
These pieces of equipment can be installed between wood-frame studs, joists, rafters and beams for irregular framing or around obstructions in order to stop heat flow downward and improve thermal resistance. They feature a bubble shape suitable for irregularity. They prevent downward heat flow while increasing thermal resistance.
Insulation-blowing equipment allows users to spread this material throughout their home quickly. It’s ideal for reaching areas blanket insulation cannot, such as tight corners. Furthermore, it seals any small gaps between timber joists that allow cold air into a space.
Available as blankets or rolls, flexible fiberglass fiber insulation comes in blankets or rolls and can be easily cut to size to reduce noise levels in ceiling cavities and reduce noise pollution. When installed together with a soffit vent it also prevents moisture build-up and mould growth, and comes as either cellulose (made from recycled newspapers), fibreglass, mineral (rock and slag), or rock wool bags that cover varied spaces – the latter two options being more costly but suitable for existing finished areas or irregularly shaped spaces where cutting is necessary.
Cost
Insulation costs vary depending on its type. Spray foam requires more preparation and experience to install than traditional roll and batten insulation, but is more cost-effective. Electrical wiring inspection and cover costs could increase costs further before proceeding with installation of spray foam insulation.
Loose fill, or blown in insulation, consists of cellulose (office paper and other fibrous materials) that is pumped or blown into ceiling cavities until reaching the R-value required. While this method provides good thermal and acoustic performance, its efficiency may be compromised due to compression or moisture affecting its effectiveness.
Glasswool ceiling batts are eco-friendly due to being made from recycled glass materials, providing thermal and acoustic insulation benefits at an economical cost. Available with different R-value options to meet the climate of your home, these pre-cut batts make DIY projects easy while their pre-cut sizes make DIY easy too. Polyester batts provide another affordable alternative; designed to withstand fire with the addition of boric acid for fire resistance treatment.