Best Residential Insulation Practices

Batts are about the worst you can do here.

Best residential insulation practices.

Insulation tips for hot humid climates. For the best performance an insulation material needs to fill the whole space with no gaps voids compression or incompletely filled areas. The higher the r value the better that material is for insulation. Icynene foam insulation is blown in using water and contains no cfcs or formaldehyde once cured.

14 best practices for high performance homes from our experts. It consists of flexible fibers most commonly fiberglass. In this case it s because they weren t cut. Cavity fibrous or cellulose insulation can be installed at levels up to r 15 in a 2 inch x 4 inch wall and up to r 21 in a 2 inch x 6 inch wall.

Thermal bridging can best be minimized in the design phase by a designer who includes cost effective thermal bridge free details. Do it yourself insulation of unfinished walls floors and ceilings. Notice that you don t see insulation filling all the spaces between the ceiling joists. By susan lahey november december 2006.

The best insulation types for your home new insulation options are less toxic and more energy efficient. Get the input of architects trade partners suppliers and other decision makers while the project is still in the design phase. See that photo above. Blanket batts and rolls are typically constructed with fiberglass although versions made of cotton mineral wool.

You also can find batts and rolls made from mineral rock and slag wool plastic fibers and natural fibers such as cotton and sheep s wool. Air krete cementitious foam is a nontoxic insulation that s sprayed into wall cavities. Here are some best practices for reducing thermal bridging. One way to assess what is the best insulation is by a measurement called an r value.

Reduce exterior wall leaks by taping the joints of exterior sheathing and caulking and sealing exterior walls. R values can be higher for foam insulation and other advanced insulation systems. Blanket insulation the most common and widely available type of insulation comes in the form of batts or rolls. Whenever possible site the home to take advantage of southern exposure on the rear with fewer penetrations on the north side.

Select a wall system that minimizes thermal bridging such as a double plate wall or one with exterior rigid insulation.