There are many things to take care of to keep your home warm and cozy. First and foremost, a home must have a building envelope with a proper list of insulation materials. Fun fact, you can drastically reduce the energy you use to maintain the home’s climate by reducing heat transfer via the building envelope. Insulation not only prohibits heat transfer but also keeps the sound under control. So, here is a list of materials that are put together that keep your home warmer.
Numerous budget-friendly thermal insulation materials list currently accessible in the market, each varying in cost, R-values, application methods, and environmental effects. Insulating thermal insulation materials in your homes mitigates winter cold losses and summer heat gains, fostering consistent indoor temperatures.
What is Insulation Material?
Insulation materials play a crucial role in thermal insulation, aiming to minimize heat transfer between objects. Heat transfer poses challenges across various industries when objects in contact have disparate temperatures. Although heat flow between these objects is inevitable, the use of insulation materials becomes instrumental in curbing the transfer. These materials function by diminishing thermal conduction or redirecting thermal radiation rather than absorbing it.
Market Report of List of Insulation Materials
In 2021, the market value of insulation products worldwide stood at USD 55.1 billion and is anticipated to reach USD 71.7 billion by 2026, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2021 to 2026. The surge in demand for insulation products is attributed to the expanding needs of the transportation and consumer end-use industries.
List of Insulation Materials Keeping Your Home Warmer
Here is a compilation list of insulation materials that keep your house warm found in both residential and commercial buildings.
1. Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose is quite combustible because it mainly consists of shredded newspaper. You can find cellulose insulation on the ceiling, walls, and attics of your house. Please note that cellulose insulation is not fireproof, even though people treat it with flame retardants.
Furthermore, it retains and absorbs moisture. You can apply cellulose insulation using many ways, out of which you can add water into it. Another point to note here is that cellulose insulation requires the same quantity of untouched materials, such as fiberglass insulation. The only difference is that cellulose insulation needs to triple the cellulose to obtain equivalent efficiency.
2. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
EPS consists of the fusion of plastic beads of a small size and consists best in the list of insulation materials. You can notice the use of EPS in concrete tiles. On the other hand, molded EPS comes in small-sized foam beads, and it is widely used for foam board insulation. The only thing you have to take care of is that a tiny hole in the wall or a rush of wind can disperse all the beads.
Read Also: 10 Types of Insulation for Every Home 2023
3. Extruded Polystyrene
The production method sets extruded polystyrene (XPS) apart from expanded polystyrene (EPS), as covered in the preceding section. XPS originates as a molten substance, molded into sheets. Primarily employed as foam board insulation, XPS also finds application in various general or specialized uses.
Extruded polystyrene differs from expanded polystyrene in various ways. It is in molten form, which is later turned into sheets. You can use it for general purposes, but its primary use is for insulating the foam board. A few of its main advantages are that it is resistant to corrosion, moisture, and rotting. Furthermore, it also has air emission benefits with net-positive energy conservation.
4. Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF)
SPF is an insulating foam plastic. Spray polyurethane foam is sprinkled as a liquid that dilates multifold. Not only does it provide an air barrier and moisture control, but it also provides a high R-value. This list of insulation materials can also be transformed into roofing foam with durability against foot traffic and water. Spray polyurethane foam serves not only as an air barrier and moisture control method but also boasts substantial R-value levels. It is widely used to insulate ceilings, roofings, air barriers, attics, and basements. It enhances the environment of your home’s ventilation for efficient functioning and keep room warm in winter.
5. Reflective Insulation
It is made from metallic foils like aluminum, polyethylene, cardboard, or plastic films. It especially prohibits the transfer of heat between open spaces. You can find reflective insulation in floor joints and roof rafters. But, you must recruit an expert to install it because the materials in reflective insulation conduct electricity. Furthermore, its performance largely relies on the method and place of installation, considering the present installation in the area.
6. Fiberglass Insulation
You can find fiberglass insulation in walls, air ducts, floors, and pipes. It further segregates into two subtypes, namely fiberglass loose-fill and blanket insulation. The former blows in, whereas the latter comes in rolls with different densities and dimensions. It is naturally non-combustible because it consists of recycled glass and sand.
Using fiberglass insulation can be beneficial to you because it can drastically reduce your utility bills and energy usage. It has impressive environmental benefits as it helps reduce fossil fuel combustion to heat and cool buildings. All in all, it reduces the overall carbon dioxide emission.
7. Radiant Barriers
You will mostly find radiant barriers in attics. Its foremost purpose is to reduce heat gain when it is hot, usually in the summer, and heat loss when it is cold, usually in the winter. Experts usually install this list of insulation materials with the reflecting side facing an open-air space. The radiant heat moves away from the body and heats every solid, absorbing the energy. It is also the reason why your roof gets heated by the sun. Furthermore, it reduces energy costs because it blocks around 90% of the heat that strikes the surface.
Click Here To Know: Types of Materials for Sound Insulation for Buildings
8. Cotton Insulation
Cotton insulation is made from recycled jeans (blue), proving that you can use your jeans for other purposes than wearing them. Not only is it environmentally and hygienically safe, but it can also decrease sounds better than other insulation methods.
Installers do not need to take special safety precautions like wearing masks or other equipment. Additionally, it maintains its R-value well enough in the winter season. The installation process of cotton insulation is identical to that of fiberglass insulation.
9. Mineral Wool
Just like fiberglass insulation, mineral wool also comes in the loose-fill and blanket form. It constitutes around 75% of post-industrial content that they recycle, and there is no need for additional chemicals in mineral wool that make it flame-resistant. Rock wool is a synthetic substance incorporating natural minerals, while slag wool is a synthetic material derived from a residue known as blast furnace slag that forms on molten metal.
10. Polyisocyanurate Insulation
This list of materials comprises plastic with closed-cell foam. It also has cells with a low-conductivity gas that provides a decent R-value. But, gas leaks can happen, which let the air inside, lowering the R-value.
The insulation comes in liquid foam, rigid foam board, and spray foam. You can also laminate into insulation panels with various facings. In-place foam applications are a better option than installing a foam board because it is more pocket-friendly. It also has better performance because the liquid foam molds well to the surfaces.
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Conclusion
So, these are the best list of insulation materials that keeping your house warm. You must consider choosing one of them that can suit the best to your needs. One thing to note is that while insulating your home, you must get an R-value recommendation from the Department of Energy in your area. Neo Thermal Insulation is always a perfect choice when it comes to buying insulation materials and providing thermal insulation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Insulation Materials?
Insulation materials play a crucial role in thermal insulation, aiming to minimize heat transfer between objects. Heat transfer poses challenges across various industries when objects in contact have disparate temperatures.
2. In the list of insulation materials which is commonly used for insulation?
Loose-fill insulation commonly utilizes materials such as cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral wool (rock or slag). Notably, these materials are crafted from recycled waste products. Cellulose, for instance, is primarily derived from recycled newsprint, while the majority of fiberglass products incorporate 40% to 60% recycled glass.
3. Why should we use insulation material?
Ensuring a consistent temperature throughout the year, insulation safeguards your home from winter cold and summer heat. It also proves effective in diminishing noise disturbances. A properly insulated house exhibits high energy efficiency, requiring minimal additional heating and cooling.
4. Where do we use insulation materials?
Insulation serves as the protective layer you can install on your home’s roof, ceiling, external walls, and floor, mitigating the impact of external temperatures on indoor comfort. This results in a reduced need for energy to heat and cool your home, making it more economical to maintain throughout the entire year.