Which Types of Insulation Should You Choose for Your Home?
Comfort. Air quality. Energy savings.
These are just a few reasons why quality insulation is essential for a successful new build or renovation. The primary job of insulation is quite simple: Keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
But with so many materials and configurations to choose from, selecting the right insulation can feel a bit overwhelming.
To simplify things for you, we’ve put together a handy list of different types of insulation and their applications. We’ll also go over the factors to consider when choosing insulation for your next project.
Where Do You Need Insulation in Your Home?
Insulation protects areas where air could easily move between the inside and outside of the home. Your biggest priorities are to prevent warm air from escaping your home during the winter and to keep it outside during the summer.
- Basement: Here you need thermal and moisture protection. Good options include rigid foam boards along basement walls, spray foam for the ceilings and a solid vapor barrier to keep the space clean and dry.
- Crawl space: As with basements, moisture control is a concern. Foam boards and a vapor barrier are good choices.
- Attic: Look for insulation that’s lightweight, moisture-resistant and easy to install. A flame retardant is also highly recommended. Blanket fiberglass with a vapor barrier is a good option.
- Roof: Fiberglass, spray foam and rigid foam boards can be installed on rafters underneath the sheathing or roof decking.
- Walls: Fiberglass boards, cellulose and foam boards are all good options. Avoid installing spray foam near electrical wiring.
- Ceilings: Mineral wool is an excellent material for noise control. This makes it a good choice to reduce the sound of people walking around overhead in multi-story homes.
- Garage: Fiberglass, cellulose and spray foam are good options for guarding against outdoor temperatures.
Factors for Choosing Insulation
Different types of insulation come with different properties that make them best suited to different uses. For example, fiberglass batts and rolls are a go-to option for many areas of the home, while spray foam might work better in odd-shaped or hard-to-reach locations.
A second big factor is your local climate. Some insulation materials do a fantastic job of keeping your home cool in hot areas, while others are better for staying warm when it’s cold. If your region gets a little of everything, consult with a building and design professional for help in choosing the right mix of insulation.
A third consideration is whether you’re undertaking a DIY project or need professional installation. Some types of insulation are fairly easy to put in yourself – just unroll it, cut it to the right size and attach to the surface. Others, such as spray foam, will need to be installed by a trained professional.
Finally, look at the R-value when comparing different brands and materials. The R-value is an abbreviation of resistance value. It tells you how well your insulation protects against hot air. Higher R-values are best suited for keeping your home warm in the winter. Lower numbers are ideal for keeping cool in the summer.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is the most common home insulation material. It consists of tiny glass fibers and most often comes in batts and rolls. Other varieties include loose fill, rigid boards and specialized duct insulation.
Because the batts and rolls are easy to install, they are a good choice for DIY projects. Fiberglass reduces heat transfer between the inside and outside of your home. It’s also fire-resistant, affordable and cost effective.
Always wear appropriate work gloves and other protective gear when installing fiberglass, as it can be hazardous if mishandled or inhaled. It is less effective in frigid climates, and you may need to pull down walls to install it in existing homes.
Mineral Wool Insulation
Mineral wool features a higher R-value than fiberglass, making it ideal for colder geographic regions. Also called rockwood insulation, its high density also gives it excellent soundproofing properties.
Because mineral wool batts are stiffer than fiberglass, they tend to stay in place more easily, sometimes without using staples. Other advantages include fire-, mold- and mildew resistance. And because it often contains recycled material, mineral wool is considered an eco-friendly choice.
Mineral wool tends to be more expensive than fiberglass and comes in fewer sizes. Its stiffness may make installation more challenging in some areas of the home.
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose is a thick, dense material derived from plants. It has a texture similar to down feathers. This eco-friendly material is a good choice for walls or attics, and it repels insects and vermin.
Because of its vulnerability to mold and mildew, cellulose is more suited to dry climates. It also dries more slowly than other materials when it gets wet. In addition, cellulose may settle and create thermal bridges, allowing hot or cold air to seep in through openings in the building envelope.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam is a chemical-based substance that is mixed onsite and applied with specialized spraying equipment. It blocks air leakages in tight crevices, narrow cavities and other small areas that are hard to cover with traditional insulation. Common foam insulation materials include cementitious, phenolic and polyisocyanurate.
Because it requires special certification and equipment to install, you’ll need to hire a pro to put in spray foam insulation. In addition, the foam materials must be covered with a fire-resistant thermal barrier.
Spray foam is known for its high R-value for preventing heat transfer. It’s also mold-, moisture- and insect-resistant. It works well in both new and older homes. It does tend to be more expensive than other materials, so shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Loose Fill Insulation
Loose-fill and blown-in insulation is an alternative to spray foam in some applications. It uses small particles of fiber, foam or other materials and conforms to the shape of a space without disturbing nearby structures. It is commonly used for retrofits or odd-shaped locations in the home.
This type of insulation is typically blown in by professional installers with special training to achieve the correct R-value. It can also be installed inside wall cavities and in unenclosed areas such as attics.
Insulation Batts
Fiberglass or mineral wool batts are flat, pre-stacked sections that act as a blanket for covering protected surfaces. They are easy to install and widely available, making them a go-to for DIY and smaller jobs.
You can find batts in a range of sizes and R-values, making them customizable for your particular project. They are easy to layer and won’t settle after installation. As noted before, wear protective gear when handling to avoid irritation and inhalation. Batt insulation should also include a vapor barrier to prevent moisture infiltration.
Insulation Rolls
Insulation rolls are most often made of fiberglass. Other materials include rock or slag minerals, wool, plastic fibers or natural materials.
Both batts and rolls typically come in widths based on the standard spacing between wall studs, attic trusses and rafters. To install, you simply unroll, cut into the appropriate size and fit it in place. For extra moisture resistance, choose a roll with a facing made of kraft paper or similar materials. The facing acts as a vapor barrier and may also come in flame resistant varieties.
Advantages of rolled insulation is that it’s affordable, widely available and easy to install. Disadvantages include a risk of skin and lung irritation, and vulnerability to sagging over time.
Insulation Boards
Rigid insulation boards include foam and fiber boards.
Foam Boards
Also known as rigid foam, foam board panels are commonly made of materials such as polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyurethane. It can be used to insulate almost any part of the home. It is especially well-suited for exterior wall sheathing, interior sheathing, basement walls and special applications such as attic hatches.
Foam boards offer good thermal resistance at up to twice that of other insulating materials at the same thickness. It does an excellent job of reducing heat conduction through building structures.
Its high R-values make foam boards a good choice for cold climates. Other advantages include moisture-resistance, soundproofing, leak prevention and affordability. Because it is somewhat harder to install, you may need to hire a pro for best results.
Structural Insulated Panels
Prefabricated insulated panels are often made with a 4- to 8-inch thick foam board sandwiched between two sheets of oriented strandboard. They are commonly used to insulate walls, ceilings, floors and roofs.
Insulated panels offer high R-values for significant energy savings compared to homes built with traditional stick frame structures. They are installed by builders at the construction site. For best long-term performance, insulated foam boards should be treated to protect against insects, rodents and moisture.
Fiber Boards
Rigid fiber board insulation is typically made from fiberglass or mineral wool, with a thickness of one to 2.5 inches. It withstands high temperatures and is commonly installed by HVAC professionals to insulate your home’s air ducts.
Concrete Block Insulation
Used for home foundations and walls, concrete blocks filled with insulating material can increase the wall’s R-value. Insulation may take the form of beads, foam inserts or foam chemicals sprayed into the cavities of the blocks.
Insulated concrete blocks offer good energy efficiency, noise reduction and added wall strength. They tend to be more expensive than other forms of insulation and may require excavation when installed in existing structures.
Vapor Barriers
Protecting your home against excess moisture is just as important as temperature control. Traditional insulation batts, rolls or boards often come with attached vapor barriers made from kraft paper or polyethylene films. This blocks moisture from seeping through your walls, ceilings and floors.
Vapor barriers give you an easy, affordable way to fight mold and mildew. They may be vulnerable to damage during installation and may hinder water from drying in warmer weather.
Radiant Insulation
Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause your roof to heat up, which transfers extra heat to your attic. This makes it especially hard to cool your home efficiently during the summer. Radiant barriers are made of reflective materials such as aluminum, along with a backing such as kraft paper or plastic film.
Installing a radiant barrier is an affordable way to lower your energy bills. However, it may be vulnerable to mold and doesn’t perform as well at thermal control. Because of this, you will still need other forms of insulation to keep your house comfortable.
Learn More About Materials for Your Project
If you have an upcoming new build or home renovation, visit Mid-City Lumber for quality materials and helpful advice from our friendly experts. Get in touch with us online for answers to your building and remodeling questions.
