Home insulation is particularly important when you live in the Northern Hemisphere. These 4 materials will help you winterproof your home, keeping your family warm and dry.
Insulating your home is a necessity. Whether you live in a cold country or whether you stay in a windy valley, keeping your insulation up to date can keep you warmer and save you money on utility bills. There are certain materials that you can use for insulation, and certain materials that you shouldn’t use. Here are the details on four different safe insulation materials to start with.
The Four Materials that Make Great Home Insulation
There are many materials you could use as insulation. For example, draughty castles used meter-thick walls with thick woolen tapestries as insulation. Here are four more modern insulation types to use in your own home.
1 – Foam Sheets of Insulation
Insulation that comes in the form of foam sheets is made from neoprene. This is a long-lasting material which does not corrode in sunlight. It is a man-made material, usually coming in large sheets you can cut to size.
Each type of insulation has an R value. The R Value relates to how much heat your insulation keeps in and how much cold air it keeps out. If you use neoprene sheets for insulation, your R Value is 2.2 per half inch, 200 weight sheets. This material can stand up to 275-degree heat. It’s lightweight, water resistant, and easy to install.
2 – Fiberglass Insulation
An all-time favorite of insulation, fiberglass is also man made. Very thin strands of molten glass are laid over each other in sheets. The tangled fibers block out wind and keep in the heat. This material comes in batts, large sections, or rolls. You can cut it to sizes, but you must wear respiration equipment when you work with it.
The R Value of fiberglass is 0.44 per inch. Far less than neoprene. You can also buy a wood fiber material of a similar nature, which has an R Value of 0.63-0.67 per inch.
3 – Polyurethane Insulation
Builders often use polyurethane insulation because it is the best insulation possible. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive. This is the type of insulation you spray in as foam. Since it contains numerous chemicals which you oughtn’t to breathe in, it must be sprayed on by a professional with a certificate to use it.
Polyurethane foam has an R Value of between 5.6 and 8.0. If you can afford it, this will keep the coldest air out.
4 – Cotton Batts
If you cannot afford foams, fiberglass, or sheets, cotton batts are a cost-effective solution. With an R-value of between 3 and 3.7, cotton batts are cheaper but don’t last long. IF you need to winterize for a single winter, this might be efficient. Expecting it to last longer is not a great idea. Cotton gets wet and starts to rot. However, it’s better than nothing in a pinch.
Which Insulation Type is Right for You?
You can tell which insulation type is right for you, examine the space. Easier to reach areas could use neoprene or batts of fiberglass, while harder to reach areas respond better to foam. Whatever you decide, your
