Having a proper, safe, and professionally installed layer between your house walls and the outside premises is one of the most vital key features to help keep your house protected, and warm, and your bills lowered. Although homeowners strive to insulate their house walls to keep their energy bills lower, there are plenty of other perks and benefits of insulation. A well-insulated home reduces the amount of heat between the inside and outside, makes the interior more comfortable, and significantly upscales the value of your property. If you have decided to add insulation to the exterior walls of your home, here are some insulation options that would suit you the best.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass insulation remains one of the most popular, lucrative, and effective insulation choices for ceilings and walls. Fiberglass is a wise choice for any home for numerous reasons, the first being accessibility and inexpensiveness. This insulation option is made out of small glass fibers, making them perfect for both thermal and soundproofing amenities. The installation can be tricky as there are plenty of fine fibers that can irritate the skin. Therefore, wearing adequate safety gear such as goggles, gloves, and a mask is a must. Out of numerous types of housing insulation, fiberglass might be the best as it superbly stops air transfer, its R-value is not affected by humidity and effectively prevents radiant heat transfer.
Cellulose
Reckon as one of the most eco-friendly options, cellulose insulation represents an effective insulation option for walls and attics. Made from recycled paper, mainly newspaper which is chemically processed, cellulose insulates come as loose-fill shreds that experts neatly need to fill the wall cavities with or any irregularly shaped areas. Homeowners who are looking after their carbon footprint would undoubtedly choose this insulation option, but compared to fiberglass it’s easily susceptible to water damage. Because it’s made out of recycled newspaper, it would slowly deteriorate over time and have a shorter lifespan.
Mineral wool
Among a plethora of advantageous features of mineral wool, the two most vital things that characterize this insulation option are its amazing thermal and soundproofing benefits. Mineral wool insulation is fantastic for large construction objects that need adequate soundproofing, but it can be used to insulate a house’s walls, attics, and basements. Yellowish and brownish, mineral wool comes in batts and rolls so it’s easy to transport and form inside the walls. Just like with fiberglass, mineral wool contains fibrous material or fibers that look and feel like wool, but should also be handled carefully. Another flabbergasting feature of mineral wool is fire resistance, durability, and sturdiness which makes it an ideal insulation option for exterior walls and attics. However, the only disadvantage might be the price since it’s fairly more expensive than fiberglass for instance.
Spray foam
One of the most practical and quick-to-apply insulation options is spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation is also fantastically versatile as it delivers top-notch performance and can apply to any type of house. Mostly used for walls, and roofs, to fill up any opening, or crooked areas, and to close cells when working with other materials. Spray foam expands fast so it would fill up any area, cranny, or nook by forming a strenuous and continuous seal that would help you cut down energy costs and have an insulated and secured home. The only downside is that it can trap the moisture inside and may not allow the house to “breathe”, hence consult professionals before you opt for this type of insulation.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane commonly known as spray foam is another common insulation material for houses. Spray foam is produced as either open-cell which has a lower R-Value and a sponge-like apparel, or as a closed-cell option which has a higher R-Value and many more useful properties. Commonly used for exterior walls due to its amazing structural strength and the ability to minimize wall movement caused by wind and vibrations. Additionally, it can be used for floor space and closing some open gaps. Unlike previously mentioned installation types, spray foam is a bit expensive, plus, this type of insulation should be handled with care, so it’s wise to call experts to install it correctly.
These are the most popular and widely used insulation materials, however, to see whether they would be the best option for your home you might want to call professionals to inspect the premises before you purchase certain insulation materials.
