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 proper insulation. Fun fact: you can drastically reduce the energy you are using to maintain the home’s climate by reducing heat transfer via the building envelope. Insulation not only prohibits heat transfer, but it also keeps the sound under control. So, here is a list put together of ten high-quality insulation materials that keep your house warm. Check the best Roof Insulation Solution for your house here.
10 Materials Keeping Your House Warm
Check the list of materials keeping your home warm
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose is quite combustible because it mainly consists of shredded newspaper. You can find cellulose insulation on the ceiling, walls, and the 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 one is where 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 for obtaining equivalent efficiency.
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
EPS consists of the fusion of plastic beads of a small size. 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.
Extruded Polystyrene
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.
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. It is widely used to insulate ceilings, roofings, air barriers, attics, and basements. It enhances the environment of your home ventilation for efficient functioning.
Reflective Insulation
It is made from metallic foils like aluminum, polyethylene, cardboard, or plastic films. It specially 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.
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 constitutes 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 like it helps reduce fossil fuel combustion to heat and cool buildings. All in all, it reduces the overall carbon dioxide emission.
Radiant Barriers
You will mostly find radiant barriers in attics. Its foremost purpose is to reduce the heat gain when it is hot, usually the summer, and heat loss when it is cold, usually the winter. Experts usually install it 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.
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.
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.
Polyisocyanurate Insulation
This type of insulation comprises plastic with closed-cell foam. It also has cells with a low-conductivity gas that provide a decent R-value. But, gas leaks can happen, which let the air inside, lowering the R-value.
The insulation comes in the liquid foam, rigid foam board, 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 of the liquid foam molds well to the surfaces.
Conclusion
So, these were the ten best materials that can keep 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.
