Home insulation options

Winter is upon us and when it comes to our homes, insulation may come to mind for many of us. A properly insulated and air sealed home can save some serious cash on your heating and cooling bills. Today, energy efficiency is becoming more important in home building and for good reasons.

To often when we're remodeling a home will we open up walls to find barely any insulation, or worse, none at all! This comes at a great cost..when it comes time to turn on the heat!

When hiring an insulation contractor, it's important to understand the full scope of work and the materials used. There are many types of insulation out there. All great for different purposes. Has your contractor informed you of these options? Do you have a fireplace going through your attic? - these require special care and precautions so there will never be a risk of fire. Will he be air sealing before any insulation is installed?? We always use expandable foam around all visible cracks, electric and plumbing fixtures, exterior openings,etc. How about ventilation? Your attic needs to breathe. If not mold and mildew will become an issue.

Fiberglass insulation is probably the most commonly used method of insulating. It's affordable, readily available, and easy to install. The new insulation is made with slightly safer and less itchy materials. Great for wall and attic insulation. Here in NY the commended R-value for attics is R49, which is achieved by rolling out faced R19 insulation in the ceiling bays, and rolling out R30 insulation on top of that in a perpendicular fashion. The recommended R-value in walls is R19, which is 6" thick. In 2x6 framed homes, no problem. The only way to achieve this in 2x4 framing is to install R13 faced insulation in the wall bays, and install foam board insulation on the exterior of home, under the siding. This obviously can't be done unless the siding is removed. We do this method when we're doing a full renovation to a home's interior and exterior. The only other way to achieve this is to use spray foam in the wall bays. The major downfall to using fiberglass insulation is just its mediocre insulating properties.

Foam board insulation is great product in many ways. There are different types used for different applications. There are EPS, ISO, and XPS panels. As a remodeling contractor we find XPS is our go to. It's usually green, pink or blue. It's middle of the line in price and Rvalue and it's a vapor retarder.  It's easy to install, water resistant, and when taped, becomes a relatively tight envelope. We typically use foam board insulation is basements, crawlspaces and behind exterior siding. The downfall for this insulation is it has limited use with low R value.

Roxul stone wool is IMO the best insulation you can use. It's fire, water and mold resistant. It resists rodents as well. One of the most popular uses of it is for its sound proofing abilities. Used commonly for shared homes and condos, bedrooms, offices, studios and so on. The major downfall to this insulation is simply the high material cost.

Blown cellulose insulation is a great option as well. It's made from recycled materials. It's treated to resist insects and rodents, and fire resistant. Blown cellulose is just that. It's cellulose insulation that is blown from a machine through a hose leading to it's destination. It's a great option for attics. The machine and insulation is left down in the driveway while the only thing going up into the attic is a guy with a hose. The install is very easy with great results. Blown cellulose is also commonly used in wall cavities by drilling holes through drywall or exterior sheathing into each bay. The major downfall of this insulation is it's very susceptible to mold growth if wet.

Spray foam insulation is a big hit nowadays. There are two types, open and closed cell.closed cell has great R value and resists water and mold. Great for all parts of the home. Creates an air tight envelope in your home, sealing any penetrations to the exterior. The major downfall to spray foam insulation is that it's very expensive and is not a DIY project.

In conclusion there are many different types of insulation for many different situations. Insulating a home may seem like a simple task, but there is so much building science involved, and if done improperly, could actually destroy your home!! Many can be DIY projects. Sometimes it's best left to the pro's.

If your looking for a professional insulation contractor in the Port Jervis, NY area, give CD Construction and Remodeling a call! 845.956.3319