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R-value is simply a measurement
of "resistance." It is a measurement of how resistant an insulating material to
temperature differences. If the outside is freezing cold, then a higher
resistance is preferred to keep the indoors warm. Therefore, the higher the
R-value, the better the insulation.
For the most part, spray foam, cellulose and fiberglass have similar R-values.
They are all great, time-tested materials and will provide a great insulating
material. The only exception is that a polyurethane foam has nearly double the
R-value of the above products. The price for polyfoam is also double.
Proper insulating methods are more important than the material itself. Any
insulation is only as good as the installation. So, it is very important that
the installers fill every void. Gaps at the tops of the walls or bottoms of the
walls greatly compromise the insulation's performance. In fact, the highest
R-value materials will not provide much benefit if the installation was poor.
When renovating an existing house, this is the most common problem. The walls
are closed cavities and installing insulation with zero gaps is nearly
impossible. Make sure that the installer has many years of experience and comes
with good recommendations.
Insulating your home is ultimately a matter of economics It is true that people
commonly threw newspapers and clothing into their wall systems during the early
1900s. The costs involved in heating homes were much lower, so insulation was
not a great concern. Since the 1940s, heating fuel costs increased
exponentially. Every decade since, insulation R-value recommendations have
increased. It is important that one understands the cost savings when insulating
their home.
Some homeowners think they need to have the highest R-values in their walls and
at the same time never consider their attics. Since heat rises, it is best to
increase the R-values in attic insulation then insulate the walls. With the new
foam products, some homeowners also think that the more expensive the
insulation, the better. When the fact is, the amount of insulation needed has to
do with the climate and energy costs. It is better to insulate at current
Department of Energy recommendations than insulate so heavily that there is no
economic advantage. In fact, too much insulation can cause other problems that
lead to costly fixes (i.e., restricted ventilation).
When considering insulating materials, homeowners should not overly concern
themselves with the product as much as the cost of installing the product. As is
always true with any remodeling or new build construction, multiple bids from
experienced, recommended insulators will bring the greatest cost savings and
insulating values.
About the Author: Dan
Pendley has over 30 years of experience in the
insulation
industry, especially with
fiberglass insulation
Article Source:
http://www.ArticleBiz.com
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