Insulation Batts: Insulating Your Homes With Bulk Insulation

Insulating your homes may be the easiest and the most efficient way to cut heating and cooling costs in the household. Most of the time, this method involves the least amount of hassle, since it may be done by ourselves.

The Different Types of Insulation

There are different kinds of insulation. Some of these are:

1. Blanket: batts and rolls
2. Concrete block insulation
3. Foam board or rigid foam
4. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs)
5. Loose fill and blown in
6. Reflective system
7. Rigid fibrous or fiber insulation
8. Sprayed foam and foam in place
9. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Each type of insulation has its own advantages. Blankets: batts and rolls are very easy to construct since they are do-it-yourself. Also, they are very suited for standard stud and joist spacing that is relatively free from obstructions and are very inexpensive. They can be installed and fitted between studs, joists, and beams, and are applicable to unfinished walls including foundation walls, floors, and ceiling.

Insulation Batts 101

As stated above, insulation batt is a type of bulk insulation, and it is designed to fit between rafters, joists, or studs. Since they are made to fit in these structures, they are proven and observed to fit very snugly into these building configurations without leaving gaps that may compromise the efficiency and effectivity of the insulation. Insulation batts are also composed of millions of tiny pockets which are able to trap air. These miniature components aid in the reduction of the transfer of heat, which causes the lowering of temperatures even in summers and the sustained heat even in cold winters. Insulation batts are also able to regulate the passing through of sound waves in your homes, and thus may also be used as acoustic insulation in some other given cases.

Insulation batts are most commonly made of three materials, namely fiberglass, mineral wool, or cotton. The most common type of insulation batt is fiberglass, which is made through melting glass and producing thin fibers with it through spinning the molten liquid. This process is done at high temperatures. Then, a binder is added to the fiberglass to hold the fibers together.

On the other hand, mineral wool is slightly similar to fiberglass, but different in the way that mineral wool’s raw material is rock (which is usually basalt) or slag (which is a waste material produced mostly from the smelting of iron ore). A binder is also added to the mineral wool to hold fibers together. Mineral wool batts are of higher density compared to fiberglass, and thus block sound more effectively and are more fire resistant.

Lastly, a relatively newer type of batt insulation is recycled cotton. This material is proven to be less of an irritant compared to fiberglass and mineral wool and is more friendly to the environment since it is made mostly of denim scraps from clothing factories. However, it is more expensive than fiberglass, is harder to find, and is more difficult to cut compared to fiberglass.

Conclusion

Picking the right type of insulation batt is very crucial. You, as the homeowner, should be able to decide which material to use according to your house’s needs and your given budget.

The Basics of Floor Insulation

In the present times, insulating may be mainly installed on walls, attics, and ceilings. While these parts of the structure are fundamental to the house, it would also be of very great help if insulation is installed in the floors of our homes. Floor insulations prove to be of great impact and contribution in reducing a household’s heating and cooling costs, providing insulation to the underfloor of a house. Adding floor insulation effectively brings heating costs down, especially for those houses with cellars that are unheated and those houses without basements. 

How does heat travel through floors?

The mechanism in which heat flows in and out of your house’s floors and how your floor holds or releases heat depends on the type of sub-floor your home possesses. Floors such as concrete slabs, which are known for their high thermal mass, will hold and retain heat throughout the day and will release the said heat during the night. Moreover, other types of floors such as stump and joist floors do not retain heat as effectively and thus lose heat very rapidly. 

A considerable amount of heat can be lost or gained through the floor; daily, about 10% to 20% of heat can be retained or released through the floor as the house’s temperature fluctuates throughout the day; insulated floors improve thermal control inside your house.

What are the types of floor insulation?

The type of floor insulation to be installed in your respective homes will have to depend on the type of floor that you have. Moreover, these are the common types of floor insulation:

1. Polystyrene panels
2. Rock wool batts
3. Fiberglass or glass wool batts
4. Polyurethane foam

Some floors may rely solely on the carpet and the layers of insulation it provides, but this may not be an option for exposed floor boards or other present types of bare flooring. In general, it is essential that the floor is sealed properly and efficiently in order for it to have a sufficient and decent insulation. If this is ensured, the R value of your home will surely be boosted and its thermal envelope will be protected well.

What are the other perks of installing floor insulation?

Aside from regulating your home’s temperature and reducing cooling and heating costs, installing floor insulation may bring you more other benefits. 

1) Installing floor insulators prevent the occurrence of drafts in homes.

For one, floor insulators eliminate drafts in homes that are raised above the ground. Because of the installed floor insulation, draft is prevented from entering through the gap that is found between the floor and the ground.

2) Installing floor insulators create a vapor barrier, and thus in turn reduce moisture.

Another benefit of having floor insulation installed in your homes is that it prevents moisture from creeping in and soaking the floor due to its layer of insulation between the floor and the crawl space. Floors made of wood are especially prone to this type of damage. Also, building up of moisture may lead to mold growth, which is very detrimental not only to your floor and to your house’s structure, but also to your family’s health.

3) Installing floor insulators will prevent the freezing of pipes during winter.

In most homes, if not all, the piping is situated beneath the flooring. Installing floor insulators would provide extra protection for these pipes, especially during winter. In countries with harsh wintertime, the pipes under the floor may crack and thus burst if the water inside them freezes. This occurrence may destroy the house’s water system. Providing floor insulation will prevent this from happening.