Asked by: Raouf Schepovskih
 asked in category: General Last Updated: 17th February, 2020

Which is the best type of insulation?

The best insulation options for an attic are open cell spray foam, fiberglass, and cellulose.
  • Cellulose is the oldest insulation material used for not only the attic, but other areas of the home as well.
  • Fiberglass is another traditional insulation material that consists of extremely fine glass fibers.

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Accordingly, what is the best type of attic insulation?

From a performance standpoint, the best type of insulation is spray foam. There are two types; closed-cell and open-cell, aka 2-pound and ½-pound, respectively. They have insulation values of approximately R-6.5 and R-3.6 per inch, respectively.

Furthermore, what are the different types of insulation? The most common insulation materials are fiberglass, cellulose and foam. Insulation types include loose fill, batts, rolls, foam board, spray board and vapor barriers.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what is the best R value for insulation?

Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.

How many inches of insulation should be in an attic?

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

29 Related Question Answers Found

Can I spray foam insulation myself?

A: Tom Silva replies: Spray foam is great insulation, but it's fairly demanding to apply; the kit instructions have to be followed exactly. In fact, study them before you buy your kit so you know what you're in for. As with spray-foam kits, protect yourself and the floor from the dripping globs of canned foam.

Is rolled insulation better than blown?

Blown fiberglass insulation scores an R-value of 3.2 to 3.8, making it slightly less likely than rolled fiberglass to prevent the flow of heat into and out of your house. That being said, though, blown fiberglass insulation isn't meant to cover huge areas like rolled fiberglass insulation.

How can you tell if insulation is bad?

Do the touch test. The interior ceilings, walls and floors in your home should feel warm and dry. When drywall and paneling inside a home feels damp or cold, there is not enough insulation. Alternatively, when touching an exterior wall, it should feel cold because insulation is keeping warm air inside a home.

Can I put new insulation on top of old?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Can you over insulate a house?

Homes need insulation, and more is generally a good thing. But there may be a theoretical point of “too much.” If a home is over-insulated and is too tightly sealed, moisture can get trapped inside. This is not to say that if you have mold in your home, too much insulation is the culprit.

What is the proper way to insulate an attic?

There are two basic ways to insulate a finished attic. If only the living space will be insulated, wrap the insulation around the room's walls and ceiling and then continue along the floor of the non-living space. In this case, the area behind the knee wall will be uncomfortably hot or cold.

How do I choose insulation?

Measure the length and width of the area you need to insulate. Multiply the length times the width to determine the square footage of the space. Decide the type of insulation to use. Cellulose insulation is calculated based on the depth of the blown-in insulation.

What is the thinnest insulation with the highest R value?

OPTIM-R is Kingspan's thinnest insulation. It comprises of a rigid vacuum insulation panel with a micro porous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope which gives an outstanding thermal conductivity of 0.007 W/m.K.

What is an R value for sleeping pads?

R-Value is a sleeping pad's ability to insulate its user from the ground. This insulation is measured on a scale from 0 to 6. The higher the R-value, the warmer it will be.

Is a higher R value better for insulation?

Understanding R-value and U-value. resistance to heat flow which means that the higher the product's R-value, the better it is at insulating the home and improving energy efficiency. This means that products with a lower U-value will be more energy efficient.

Which form of insulation is most effective?

The best insulation options for an attic are open cell spray foam, fiberglass, and cellulose. Cellulose is the oldest insulation material used for not only the attic, but other areas of the home as well. Cellulose can be either a loose-fill or blown-in material and is primarily made of recycled newsprint or denim.

What is the most efficient insulation material?

Other Common Insulation Materials Aerogel is more expensive, but definitely the best type of insulation. Fiberglass is cheap, but requires careful handling. Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant. Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and effective, but hard to apply.

What is the R value of 1 inch Styrofoam?

• Also called Styrofoam insulation, this is the least expensive material. It provides R-values that range from 3.6 to 4.2 per inch. Some products have reinforced facing to make them sturdier.

What is insulation R value?

R-Values. An insulating material's resistance to conductive heat flow is measured or rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value -- the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density.
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