Homeowners in North America, especially in the northernmost parts, are no strangers to frigid, windy winters where a warm, cozy home with adequate insulation affords a welcome retreat.
From the mid-northern states of America to the artic north regions of Canada, home insulation of one type or another is a necessary requirement for every home. Insulation types range from fiberglass insulation, foam insulation, spray foam insulation, and cellulose insulation, to reflective aluminum faced sheeting insulation.
Reasons For Adequate Insulation:
Why all the fuss? There are several compelling reasons to adequately insulate a home; including homes in more temperate or sub-tropical zones.
First and foremost, equipping a structure with adequate house insulation helps to stop the transfer of heat through the walls. This works equally well in both seasonal extremes.
In winter, insulation keeps heat from transferring from the inside of the structure to the outside; in summer, it keeps heat from transferring from the outside to the inside. In both scenarios, inside “comfort zone†temperature is kept more constant. Therefore, the structure is much easier to heat during winter months, and keep cool in the summer.
In addition, by having adequate insulation in either climate, HVAC systems are not overworked by trying to keep up with demand, adding years to the life expectancy of the system.
Insulating efficiency of all types of insulation is rated by an insulation R factor, based on every inch of thickness of the insulation. How much insulation is adequate for different climates? According to the US Department of Energy (DOE) the following guideline for insulation R values is best:
- Zone 1 - Upper Midwest and New England states
Attic - R49 Walls - R28 Floors - R25
- Zone 2 - Mountain West and Great Lakes regions
Attic - R49 Walls - R22 Floors - R25
- Zone 3 - Pacific Northwest and Southern states
Attic - R49 Walls - R18 Floors - R25
- Zone 4 - Sub-topic Gulf Coast and California
Attic - R49 Walls - R18 Floors - R25
More specific guidelines are available from the DOE, according to postal zip-code.
Important Areas to Insulate
There are four important areas to insulate in a home structure; The attic, exterior walls, the floor/crawlspace, and the garage.
Adequate attic or roof insulation is the single most important area because of the physical fact that heat rises, making the roof the primary culprit for heat loss transfer in a home. Attic insulation is most commonly installed by blown insulation, applied using a special blower and hose. Or by blanket insulation, installed by placing rolled or batt insulation between ceiling joists. Proper insulation R values are attained by either the resulting depth of loose cellulose, fiberglass blown in, or the insulation R factor of the rolled insulation or batts installed.
Exterior walls are the next most important areas to keep heat loss at a minimum. Exterior walls are normally insulated using batt insulation, with R factor determined by the thickness of the batts.
Batts are installed between framing studs in the wall, normally during the construction process. Older structures requiring more adequate insulation are good candidates for blown insulation installed by a professional contractor. Otherwise, plaster or drywall must be removed to access framing studs for installation of batt insulation.
Floors or crawlspaces are insulated using fiberglass batt insulation with the correct R value underneath the floor between floor joists.
Attached garages sometimes get overlooked for proper insulation. Walls and ceilings should be insulated with the proper R value material. Garages are a popular area to quickly insulate with hardboard foam insulation; cut to fit between frame studs and rafters, and then nailed or glued into place.
Home Insulation Price
The most common types of insulation used in today's structures are fiberglass insulation purchased in rolls, fiberglass batt insulation in 8-foot lengths (4 or 5 to a bag), and loose fiberglass blow in insulation purchased in bags.
Home insulation price can vary greatly from one locality to another, with 15-inch wide R19 fiberglass insulation costing anywhere from $.38 to $.45 per square foot. Homeowners may have difficulty finding fiberglass batt insulation with the adequate R value for attic insulation. Many building material supply retailers only stock up to R38 in batt insulation, priced at around $1.20 per square foot.
Loose fiberglass blow in insulation is widely available, at a cost of about $.75 per square foot at R50, or about 19.5 inches deep. Most retailers provide free use of equipment to install blow in insulation. However, some professional blow in insulation contractors provide R50 and install it for less than $.75 per square foot, so wise homeowners will seek their services.
DIY Installation
Installing insulation into frame walls before drywall is installed is a relatively easy do it yourself project. Requiring no special expertise or tools other than a utility knife to cut insulation batts, and a stapler to attach the edge of the paper facing to stud faces. Fiberglass particles are extremely irritating to the skin, so protective clothing and eyeglasses should be used at all times.
Hiring a Professional
A general contractor will normally install adequate insulation - usually included in the contract for new construction projects. For homeowners wishing to have more adequate insulation professionally installed in existing structures such as older homes, a professional insulation contractor or insulation company may be the best option. Especially when blow in insulation is needed for exterior walls, to avoid drywall demolition.
To locate reliable local contractors, homeowners all over America are turning to TrustedPros.com
Whether seeking a general contractor or a house insulation installer, homeowners sign up for FREE with no obligation. And then post project details online where it is made visible 24/7 to local contractor members waiting to bid competitively for the project.
Homeowners receive bids within days, even hours after project posting; view contractor profile pages, licensing, certification, and insurance credentials, customer references and feedback, and peruse contractor photo galleries of recently completed projects online. And then make an informed hiring decision, or hire no one at all. Remember, there is no obligation whatsoever.
Posted by: TrustedPros