Installing insulation in your walls can help to stabilize sound and increase the energy efficiency of your home especially during winter seasons and hence save money on heating and cooling. Various insulation materials are available on the market- some are cheap while others are expensive.
Many of these insulation materials have been in the market for quite some time. Each of these materials has their own advantages and disadvantages. So when choosing an insulation material, you should select the material that you know would work effectively in your situation.
Below are the top five most common insulation materials.
- Fiberglass
This is the most common type of insulation material used in modern times. Because of how it is produced- it efficiently weaves fine strands of glass into an insulation material, this enables it to minimize the heat transfer.
The primary challenge of fiberglass is the danger of handling it. Fiberglass is mainly made up of finely woven silicon, glass powder, and tiny shards of glass are formed. This can cause harm to the lungs, eyes, and even the skin if proper safety equipment is not undertaken. When proper safety equipment is used, installing fiberglass can be easy without incident. Fiberglass is also cost-effective.
- Cellulose
This type of insulation is one of the best eco-friendly forms of insulation. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled cardboard, paper, and other materials. It comes in loose form. Cellulose R-value is between R-3.1 and R-3.7. Recent studies have shown that cellulose can be an excellent product for use in minimizing fire damage.
Because of the compactness of material, cellulose has little or no oxygen within it. If there is no oxygen within the material, the amount of damage that a fire can cause is minimized. So generally, cellulose is the most eco-friendly forms of insulation and also one of the most fire-resistant forms of insulation.
The disadvantages of this insulation material are allergies that some people may have when it comes to newspaper dust. It is also hard to find an individual who is skilled in using it. But still, cellulose is the cheapest and effective method of insulation.
- Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a waterproof thermoplastic foam which is the best sound and temperature insulation material. Polystyrene insulation material comes in two types: the expanded [EPS] and extruded [XEPS] which is also known as Styrofoam. These two types vary in cost and performance.
The EPS is still the popular option. Its R-value is R-4. The more costly XEPS has an R-value of R- 5.5. Polystyrene insulation has a smooth surface that no any other type of insulation material has. The foam is typically created or cut into blocks making it ideal for wall insulation. The foam is flammable and therefore should be coated with a fireproof chemical called Hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD].
- Mineral wool
It actually refers to several different types of insulation. It might apply to glass wool, rock wool, or slag wool. The most popular mineral wool is the slag wool which is produced from the slag from steel mills. The mineral wool can be purchased in batts or as loose material. This insulation material is not fire resistant, and so it cannot be used in areas with extreme heat.