How to Choose the Correct Ceiling Insulation
It is vital that one installs the right kind of attic insulation since the correct insulation can drastically lower the electricity bills of heating and cooling the house. Insulation would also make your home warm and comfortable and also create a steady in-house atmosphere in addition to reducing our home’s energy consumption.
In order to choose the right insulation, one needs to consider the R-value of the insulating material. The reason behind insulation is to prevent gaining heat on a hot day and trapping the warmth during cold conditions and is measured by the R-value. The R-value is the measure of how competently an insulator resists the transfer of heat between surfaces. This value varies depending on the nature, density and thickness of the material used. Therefore, a material with a high R-value will be more efficient than a material with a low R-value.
There are numerous types of insulation materials with the most common ones being foam, fiberglass and cellulose. There are also various forms of insulation types ranging from loose fill, batts, spray board, vapor barriers, and rolls with rolls being the most ideal for ceiling floors. To determine the type of insulation required, one needs to consider the existing insulation and the desired R-value.
It is also critical to install vapor barriers in the outer frame of the house to prevent accumulation of moisture in the ceiling. If this measure is not adhered to and the moisture is allowed to circulate freely on the inside and outside of the ceiling, the moisture will weaken the insulation material and make it lose its R-value. Moreover, mold and rot will develop over time which will adversely lower the strength of the house frame.
When calculating the amount of insulation required, you will have to determine whether your house is already insulated, measure the total area that requires insulation and decide on the best type of insulation to use.
In the event that you have pre-installed insulation, gauge its industrial standards by looking at its R- value with the higher R-value promising better performance. Next, one needs to measure the length and width of the area requiring insulation and multiply the two measurements to get the square footage of the ceiling.
When determining the type of insulation used, bear in mind that fiberglass insulation is assessed by the number of rolls required and can be installed by the homeowner hence saving on labor costs. On the flipside, blown-in insulation, though not tedious, requires specialized equipment and may turn out to be a little more expensive than fiberglass. During insulation, remember to insulate the outer walls and crawl spaces too as these spaces are most vulnerable to heat transfer.
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