Home Insulation Options For Your Comfort

Whether you live nearer to the equator or the north or south poles, you’ll need proper home insulation. You will find it in the four walls that hold your windows as well as every layer of ceiling and flooring throughout your rooms. It provides several functions in all areas of the home. However, there are only a few types of materials to choose from to provide the thermal regulation that is used today. 

Home insulation is originally installed at the point of new construction, but it will need to be replaced as it ages depending on which material you choose. It is placed between the exterior walls and the inner drywall for three main purposes. First, to keep the exterior walls and floors thermally protected, it keeps majority of the icy winter and steamy summer from entering while keeping your indoor thermostat setting of a warm winter and a cool summer from seeping out. Second, this product is used as an all important moisture and fire barrier as well. For moisture it prevents a lot of the condensation due to air transfer in humid areas of the home such as the kitchen or bathroom from developing mildew inside of the walls and rooms. Further, fire barrier will not prevent fire damage; it is intended to slow a fire from spreading through rooms or levels of the home, offering you a chance to escape. On a lighter note, these products also provide sound buffering. It allows for a separation of space and activity by turning down the volume through walls, flooring, and ceiling padding. 

There are three options in home insulation. They include the traditional synthetic fibers seen in classic pink and beige, organic cotton (denim), or spray foam. By products and synthetic fibers used for thermal and auditory barrier include cellulose, rock wool, batting, rigid boards, and fiberglass. Meanwhile, fiberglass is known to be the best vapor and fire retardant additive to insulation in the fibrous form. Denim has been used for quite some time for thermal and auditory; however it must be pretreated or be accompanied by fire retardant spray foam chemical in order to provide the last necessary layer of protection.

Home insulation has been taken up a notch with the use of spray foam. It improves upon the benefits of traditional and organic fibers in many ways. Spray foam provides a more permanent and less penetrable seal for your exterior walls. It keeps out common dust and pollen allergens while keeping in more heat and cool during their needed months of the year. It provides this elevated level of energy and barrier protection by staying in the nooks and crevices where sprayed for an even and strong layer of protection for as long as you live in your home. Regardless of your existing home insulation, an inspection and upgrade will not only save you on energy costs, but it will contribute to your comfort and peace of mind when you know that your home is protected and sealed.