A Well Insulated House

Having a good house insulation is not only a great way to live toward a greener ideal, but to also save yourself some money on heating and cooling bills. Increasing the thermal insulation in an existing home doesn’t have to be difficult, and the financial payoff can be substantial in the long run. It is more cost-effective to add house insulation during construction than to retrofit it after the house is finished. To properly insulate a new home, you’ll need to know where to insulate and the recommended R-values for each of those areas. Use a tool to determine where you need to insulate and the recommended R-values based on your climate, type of heating and cooling system, etc. Once you know where you need to insulate and the recommended R-values, review our information on the types of insulation to help you decide what type to use and where. Before you insulate a new home, you also need to properly air seal it and consider moisture control. When remodeling, one of the best and fastest ways to insulate is using blown-in insulation. Blown-in insulation, when installed with the dense pack technique, will offer superior air sealing. It can be installed easily, reducing the amount of preparation needed. If you’re remodeling and your wall cavities will be open, look into two-part spray foam or wet spray cellulose insulation. If you are building a new home, then there are many alternatives to choose from, including structural insulated panels, insulating concrete forms, and insulated concrete blocks. All of these materials are considered insulating materials as they are manufactured with the purpose of increasing R values on a building. If you’re building a traditional framed house, consider using advanced wall framing techniques. These techniques improve the whole-wall R-value by reducing thermal bridging and maximizing the insulated wall area.

In most climates, you will save money and energy when you build a new home or addition if you install a combination of cavity insulation and insulated sheathing. Reduce exterior wall leaks by taping the joints of exterior sheathing and caulking and sealing exterior walls. 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. R-values can be higher for foam insulation and other advanced insulation systems.

Three critical elements of house insulation strategy are:

1.    The type of insulation material to be use

2.    Where it is installed to be installed

3.    And how much is needed

If there is no upcoming work being done on the home, you will want to consider which season is best for installation. Although, if you are in a cold climate some people wait until winter, hoping that prices will become lower, the cost of insulation actually remains fairly constant throughout the year. The best option is to choose an installation time that will increase energy cost savings. If you're having a new home built, be sure to talk to your builder about these elements so that you can be assured the house insulation strategy will contribute to a comfortable, efficient home.