Comparison Of Wall Insulation Types

The different types of insulation.

Comparison of wall insulation types.

Fiberglass rock wool or slag wool cellulose and spray foam. There are four main types of insulation products on the market today used for attics and wall cavities. According to the building sciences corporation bsc all insulation types perform equally well when properly installed and air sealed. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Older homes especially those pre dating the 1950s may employ two by fours that truly are 2 inches by 4 inches. While rated differently these two types of insulation are close enough in thickness that they can both fit into modern two by four wall systems. Energy efficiency of insulation products are measured in r value or the resistance to heat flow.

R values vary based on the type thickness and density of the insulation material. It consists of flexible fibers most commonly fiberglass. The best type of insulation for exterior walls is one that acts as a thermal break acts as a radiant barrier and has an insulated core. R value measures how resistant types of insulation are to heat flow.

Spray foam spray foam insulation is generally used in areas where there are no wall cavities to contain other types of insulation on concrete slabs or unfinished walls. When it comes to choosing the best internal wall insulation for your home there are two main criteria you need to consider. This will increase performance by resisting radiant heat convection and conduction heat transfer. Blanket insulation the most common and widely available type of insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls.

What parts of your home need to be insulated and what are the r value recommendations for each of those areas. Eps insulation features an average r value of 3 6 per inch. When certain types of plastic facers are applied the composite product can feature an r value of up to 3 8 at one inch. You also can find batts and rolls made from mineral rock and slag wool plastic fibers and natural fibers such as cotton and sheep s wool.

The higher the r value the higher the insulating capability. Installing this type of insulation is an inexpensive and diy friendly project since the materials are designed to fit into the standard width between wall studs attic rafters and floor joists. Understanding different insulation materials.