Home insulation: How to beat the weather
If your home is well insulated you will save on energy and save on your heating bills. Good insulation makes the house more comfortable. Of course a well insulated home is going to help keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It can also help prevent water damage and can help to provide thermal resistance. Making sure that you home has great insulation is definitely great in keeping the temperature of your home more steady. It is a useful way to keep the outside temperature outside of you home.
You can cut down on the cost heating and cooling of your home by having you home insulated with good quality insulation. By investing in good quality insulation, this will help decrease the amount of air leaking out of your home and decrease any water leaking into your home. Good insulation is determined by the amount of thermal resistance or R value. The higher the R value the better the quality of insulation.
There are many insulation types out there to choose from. It can be a difficult choice to make when choosing from the many different types out there. The biggest different seen in the types of insulation is what materials they are made of. Insulation can be made from plastic foam, loose fill, rigid board and some can even be sprayed into the wall. The easiest and cheapest way to insulate your house is by doing it yourself. By using materials like blanket and batt strips (located in every home improvement store) you can save yourself a lot of money. These types of insulations are usually made from materials like plastic, polystyrene fibers, fiberglass and mineral wool. No professional is required to do this work. A do it yourself homeowner can do this work himself. Regardless of whether or not you choose to do it yourself or hire someone to do it, make sure to get the best R value that you can.
There are some concerns that you need to consider before purchasing your insulation materials, especially if you are doing it yourself. Here is a rundown of some of the different types and what precautions you need to take when installing them.
1. If you choose to use the fiberglass insulation, you need to understand that there is the potential for irritation to the skin and skin allergies can arise if you are not careful when installing it. You definitely want to make sure to wear proper clothing and protective gear when installing fiberglass.
2. Many people choose to use mineral wool insulation because it is a more natural type of material and allows for better fire protection and sound reduction. There is however the issue of respiratory problems. Again, it is important to make sure to wear a face mask or other respiratory protection when installing this type of material.
3. For the more ‘Green’ consumer, you have the product of Plastic fiber glass insulation. This is made with recycled plastic bottles and is a great way to insulate the walls and attic spaces. There are virtually no problems when installing this type of insulation.
4. Cellulosic insulation is another natural product for the ‘Green’ consumer. It is made with wood fibers and recycled newspapers. While this is great to insulate with because of the bug repellant properties and increased resistance to fire, you need to be careful if you live in an area where moisture is an issue. This type of insulation does not provide much in the way of resistance to moisture, which could lead to internal wall mold and can cause allergies and illness.
5. Insulation made from polystyrene material is great for reducing heat and air loss and protects against water leaking into the house. This product can be used on floors, ceilings and walls. This type of insulation is high on the R value and is definitely great on saving you money with your heating and cooling bills.
Regardless of the type of insulation you choose or if you choose someone to install it for you, it is important for you to do your research. Make sure that you are getting the best quality insulation and one that will work in your environment. Hopefully by reading this article, you will have learned about what to ask before choosing which one is right for your home.
Cryste Wisne is general contractor who writes articles to instruct do it yourselfers in everything from installing floors to taking care of general house maintanence. For free articles Click here.
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