Insulation Perth is an important part of every home, but knowing which type of insulation works best can be confusing. Understanding the science behind thermal dynamics and acoustical energy transmission is key to creating a comfortable home environment.
Proper insulation prevents conduction – heat transfer, reduces convection – air movement and keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also protects your walls from moisture and exterior damage.
Fiberglass insulation is one of the most commonly used materials for insulating homes. It is made from recycled glass and sand, which helps minimize environmental impact. The material is manufactured in panels (known as batts) that are sized for specific areas of the home. When properly installed, fiberglass insulation can help save energy and money by slowing the flow of heat through walls, attics, and ceilings.
It’s important to measure and cut the insulation correctly so that you don’t waste it. It’s also essential to use the right tools, including a utility knife and straight edge, and wear protective gear. This includes gloves, a dust mask, and safety glasses to prevent exposure to the material’s fiberglass particles.
Another benefit of fiberglass insulation is that it’s non-combustible and doesn’t contribute to the spread of fire through a building. This gives homeowners peace of mind and provides a safer environment for their families.
Additionally, fiberglass insulation is resistant to moisture, reducing the risk of mold and mildew growth. This is especially helpful for homeowners living in humid climates where moisture can be a problem.
Cellulose
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper materials—primarily post-consumer newsprint—and is typically coated with boric acid, borax, or ammonium sulfate for fire resistance and insect resistance. It can be dry blown (loose-fill) or wet blown (sprayed with water added during installation). Because of its high recycled content, cellulose can have lower embodied energy than fiberglass batt insulation.
Cellullose insulation is a good choice for older homes as well as new construction. It can be blown into stud cavities with a machine that is available to rent at most home improvement stores. This makes it less DIY-friendly than fiberglass batt insulation, but it’s still a good option for experienced do-it-yourselfers.
It is denser than other types of insulation, which means that it provides good heat resistance even when it’s not completely filled. Blown cellulose can also be used to seal around ductwork and electrical wires.
It’s a “green” product, since it uses up to 85% recycled newspaper and is often coated in chemicals that are safe for people. This type of insulation can be a great way to make your house more eco-friendly without changing its appearance significantly. It fits into the concept of the circular economy, which aims to keep products in use and recycle waste from natural ecosystems. Insulating a typical 1500 ft2 house with cellulose, for example, removes 3.2 million pounds of post-consumer newsprint from the nation’s waste stream.
Mineral Wool
Mineral wool (also known as rock wool, stone wool or slag wool) insulation is made from natural materials such as volcanic rock and molten slag. It is spun like cotton candy into fibers, then glued, pressed, and formed to create insulation boards and batts.
As a thermal insulator, it is effective by trapping air in its open-cell structure, and it reduces convection by blocking pathways. It also acts as a barrier to radiant heat transfer by deflecting and dissipating the sun’s energy, rather than transmitting it into a building.
It also has acoustic qualities, and it can be used to improve the sound-proofing of floors, ceilings and walls. It can limit the transfer of noise between rooms and between a building and the outside environment, making it a good choice for living spaces and offices. It is also non-combustible, which makes it an excellent choice for sheathing building supports and girders.
The main drawback to mineral wool is that it can contain toxic and allergenic fibers. It is therefore important for installers to use quality dust masks when handling the material. The fibers can become airborne and irritate the respiratory system. It is also not biodegradable, so it does not help reduce the ecological footprint of a build. However, it does contain up to 70% recycled material and is a more sustainable product than fiberglass insulation.
Foam
Foam insulation is a type of spray-applied plastic foam that creates a tight, airtight seal to limit heat flow in walls and roofs. The insulating qualities of this material also prevent moisture intrusion, which could foster mold and mildew growth or lead to rot and structural damage.
Closed-cell foam insulation provides superior moisture resistance and better energy efficiency than other types of insulating products. It is ideal for insulating basements and crawl spaces since it can prevent downward thermal flow from the warm air of living areas above. It can be sprayed or blown into place between wood-frame studs, joists, and rafters or inserted into HVAC ducts.
Spray-applied foam insulation is commonly known as spray polyurethane foam (SPF) and can be applied to wood-frame walls or concrete slabs. It is sprayed on site using a gun that mixes two chemical components at the tip: isocyanate and polyol resin. The resulting mixture expands rapidly to fill gaps and cracks, providing excellent insulation that minimizes air infiltration.
Open-cell foam, or ocSPF, is lighter than closed-cell foam and can fit into small spaces. It is often used to reduce gaps around light fixtures, electrical outlets, and windows and doors. It is less expensive than closed-cell SPF but it doesn’t offer the same R-value. This product is also eco-friendly and uses recycled plastic waste to make it, unlike many other spray insulations that use fossil fuels.
ICF
Insulated concrete forms, or ICFs, are hollow foam blocks that form a mold into which builders pour concrete, creating sturdy and well-insulated walls. The EPS foam interlocks and remains in place after the concrete sets, providing continuous insulation for a more energy-efficient building. ICF walls also provide better resistance against the forces of nature, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, than conventional wood-framed homes.
ICF construction offers a number of benefits to homeowners, contractors and builders. The pre-assembled blocks are quicker and easier to install than traditional building materials, reducing labor costs and project duration. In addition, the EPS foam insulation eliminates the need for additional insulation installation, further cutting construction time and materials.
Additionally, ICF construction reduces home energy use, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs for occupants. These savings over the life of the house can have a major impact on lowering the building’s environmental footprint.
ICFs are an excellent choice for those looking to build a greener home or commercial building. These eco-friendly building materials require less energy to produce than traditional wood-framed buildings, and they offer significant operational energy savings over the life of the building. Furthermore, ICF homes have superior moisture and pest resistance. Their airtight seals limit the infiltration of outdoor pollutants, dust and allergens, making them an ideal choice for anyone suffering from respiratory problems or allergies. ICFs are also fire resistant and can withstand up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit without collapsing, unlike wood frame structures that typically collapse within an hour.
Loose-Fill
Loose-fill insulation, also known as blown insulation, is installed in closed cavities like walls and attics using special equipment. It can be made from a variety of materials including cellulose (even recycled newspapers), fiberglass, polystyrene beads, perlite and vermiculite. It’s one of the most versatile types of insulation, ideal for new wall cavities and hard-to-reach areas. It’s also an excellent sound-proofing option. Loose-fill insulation is also a green alternative, often containing recycled content which aligns with environmental conservation efforts.
To install blown insulation in an attic, a professional uses specialized equipment to blow loose cellulose into the space between wood framing joists. It’s important that the insulation is installed at its recommended density to ensure maximum insulating power. A loose-fill insulation tool can help determine the number of bags of insulation needed for a given attic and the resulting R-value once it’s settled.
Insulation is an essential part of any home improvement project, enhancing comfort and lowering energy costs. The right type of insulation can improve the efficiency and health of a building, helping to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Choosing the right type of insulation can deliver one of the quickest paybacks on any home improvement project, delivering significant financial benefits in just a few years. The best choice depends on your particular needs and budget. For instance, if you live in a cold climate, opting for loose-fill cellulose could yield higher R-values than fiberglass batt insulation, though reducing the R-value doesn’t tell the whole story.