Simpson
You bought your dream home and realized that the winter months are as freezing inside as outside the house. Older or existing homes with no insulation could leave you with more than cold feet. But how do you go about adding that extra layer of comfort?
According to knaufinsulation.com.nz, there’s a specific science behind creating the perfect insulating layer for your home. Insulation could be used to control the temperature inside your home on warm days just as much as the colder ones. For cooler temperatures, you might want to incorporate other ways of keeping your house warm along with the insulation and add cooling options for hotter climates.
If you realize that your home could do with more insulation, read on!
1. Remove Harmful Pre-Existing Insulation
If you have an older home with pre-existing insulation, you might want to check and remove the old insulation if it’s made from asbestos, which could cause cancer. Older houses might also have insulation that was treated with toxic chemicals, and this type of insulation should also be removed and replaced.
2. Decide On Your Starting Point
You should always consider starting with the attic floor if your house has one. This will be the best place to start as this space is usually the cause of most of the heat escape. When choosing your starting point, make sure that this space is designed to accommodate insulation. Some areas may not be suitable to insulate due to the way they’re constructed, so consult with an expert if you’re unsure.
3. Choose The Correct Insulation Method
There are various ways of insulating your home, and finding the one that suits your needs will take some research on your part. You’d need to factor in your budget; also, some of the methods may be more expensive than others. Rigid insulation, for example, might be used during major renovations where entire wall panels are replaced for roofs or foundations.
A looser type of insulation might be best if you want to use it on the walls of your house and don’t want to use methods that might cause you to replace or move panels. The loose insulation is usually then blown into the spaces between the walls, making it less hassle.
Similar to the loose insulation, you could also opt for a self-expanding foam or spray that’ll fill all the gaps and spaces between the walls or other surfaces you’d like to insulate.
4. Select The Material To Be Used
Many different types of materials are available to use when insulating your home. Loose materials could include cellulose materials like recycled newspaper, which makes it a more cost-effective option that’s eco-friendly as well. Another eco-friendly option would be to use cotton insulation, which could be manufactured from recycled clothing items like denim. Fiberglass and polyisocyanurate could also be used as alternatives.
Whichever material you choose, make sure that the material has been chemically treated to prevent mold and insect damage. Materials can be treated with borates to ensure that the mold and insect damage is kept to a minimum while also being fire-retardant. Some chemicals may react to moisture and cause damage to steel or copper pipes, so make sure you install the correct material according to the layout of the area to be insulated.
Each type of material will have an R-value which indicates how well the material will be able to resist the flow of heat. If you select a material with a high R-value, you’ll have a material that’ll isolate very well.
Take the climate of your area into consideration when you choose the material to ensure that the type and R-value suit your home’s needs.
5. Reduce The Effect Of Moisture
The materials selected to use during the insulation process should assist with moisture reduction if placed properly. If the installation isn’t done properly, you could have more serious problems long-term with mold, wood rot, or paint that needs to be replaced because it might start to peel.
Always install your insulation with a layer that protects against moisture facing the inside of the house. Also, make sure not to cover any air vents of the house so moisture can escape naturally through these openings and not be trapped by the insulation.
Final Thoughts
Using these tips and following the manufacturer’s instructions would certainly ensure the successful installation of your insulation. So, be as cool as a cucumber when making your choices and don’t be a hot head when you need help and save more than just energy with your new insulation.
