Insulation Materials Part One

Either if you are installing insulation for the first time or replacing it due to maintenance or decay, there are many factors regarding insulation itself that you need to do before buying the supplies to lay in your home.

Let’s go through some of the most important ones. As always, remember that you can call us at any time for guidance and assistance in the selection of the best insulation for your home.

Part ONE. Insulation Materials.

These first two insulation materials can be equally used to insulate unfinished walls, floors and ceilings as they can be fitted between studs, joists and beams.

They can also be used in wall cavities, unfinished attic floors and hard to reach places. They are particularly good for ducts in unconditioned spaces and areas that require insulation that will withstand high temperatures.

Fiberglass

As its name states, it is comprised by extremely fine fibers made out of glass. A while ago, it was also known as “angel hair”. Back in the 60-80’s it was used commonly in toys and decorations, now it is a common material for batts and rolls as well as loose-fill insulation. It has also been molded as rigid boards and duct insulation.

However, the extremely fine glass fibers can be woven more densely and be conversed in medium and high-density fiberglass insulation products. This type of insulation is somewhat ecological and environmentally friendly as the glass that is spun into the glass fibers that constitute the fiberglass mostly come from recycled bottles.

Mineral Wool

This refers to the human industry process through which basalt, diabase and slag (which is the waste matter that forms on the surface of molten metal) go through to acquire a wool-like form.

This insulation material is also considered ecologically friendly as it contains an average of 75% of post-industrial recycled content. As a plus, it really does not need any chemicals to make it fire resistant.

While many websites will tell you that you can lay these out yourself, others will make strong emphasis that you need to hire a contractor.

As usual, this depends on where are you planning or needed to have the Insulation installed. If you happen to have an unfinished area, hiring a contractor to complete it might be the best idea.

If you are a skilled do-it-yourself, then you might want to take the chance and lay it out yourself. These are probably the best insulation materials for the newbie and the do-it-yourself that can work on the weekends.

In the following posts, we will explore the rest of the insulation materials, both man-made and natural.

Do remember that at any point, you can contact us for guidance on the best insulation for your project. We are a phone away.