If you’re looking for a way to keep your home feeling comfortable, while also cutting down on your energy costs, installing insulation is a great option. When it comes to choosing which insulation is right for your home, there are several products to choose from, each with its own set of benefits. First introduced in the late 1930s, fiberglass has remained the most popular insulation material used in both residential and commercial construction projects. In this article, we will take a look at some of the top benefits of using fiberglass insulation in your construction projects. What is Fiberglass Insulation? Fiberglass insulation is composed of extremely fine glass fibers. Typically, it will come in a blanket form; however, you can also find fiberglass insulation in loose-fill form. Fiberglass insulation works as an insulator by trapping air and slowing the transfer of heat. The resistance to heat flow, which is measured by the R-value, is determined by the thickness of the fiberglass batts. The R-value ranges from R11 to R19 for walls and can go up as high as R30 for ceilings and attics. Benefits of Using Fiberglass Insulation Fiberglass insulation provides several benefits for builders and homeowners, including the following: More Eco-Friendly One of the great benefits of fiberglass insulation is that it is better for the environment. It is primarily composed of recycled content; in fact, some fiberglass insulation products are composed of up to 80% recycled glass. High-Quality Thermal Performance Whether you are trying to cool your home during the summer or keep it warm and cozy during the winter, fiberglass insulation helps keep your home at...
Whether you are building a new home or renovating your current one, one question that is always asked is how to know which type of insulation is best for your home. According to recent research, the majority of home builders still favor fiberglass insulation over other options. Out of the 1,600 builders who were surveyed, 71% use fiberglass insulation. Keep reading to learn more about fiberglass insulation and why it is so popular among home builders. What is Fiberglass Insulation? Fiberglass insulation is a type of insulation that is composed mainly of extremely fine glass fibers. It works as an insulator by trapping air and slowing the transfer of heat. Most often, fiberglass insulation comes in a blanket form; however, you can also find it in loose-fill form. Fiberglass insulation is an excellent choice for homeowners who are looking to save money or for those who are planning to complete the insulation installation job themselves. The thickness of the fiberglass batts determines the resistance to heat flow, which is measured by the R-value. For walls, the R-value ranges from R11 to R19; for ceilings and attics, it can go up as high as R-30. What are the Benefits of Using Fiberglass Insulation? Just like with any type of insulation, fiberglass insulation provides the homeowner with quite a few benefits, including the following: Fiberglass insulation is inexpensive, effective, and easy to install. It is moisture resistant, which is great for homes in higher-humidity regions. Because it resists moisture, it is less prone to mold growth. You do not have to worry about insects eating the fiberglass insulation, as it is...
Fiberglass insulation has been around since 1938, and it remains an affordable and high-quality form of insulation even today. It has a host of benefits, including saving you money on energy bills and keeping you comfortable for years to come. Here’s what you need to know about fiberglass and why it’s one of the most popular insulation choices available! Excellent Financial Value One thing that makes fiberglass so popular is that it’s more affordable than other insulation choices, but it can be installed in a way to give comparable resistance values (R-values.) That means you can get similar comfort and energy savings at a much lower price. When you have better thermal performance, meaning your walls, crawlspaces, and attic hold in air better, you save significantly on energy bills. This helps you avoid using non-renewable fuels for heating and cooling. Flexibility in Use and Design Fiberglass insulation is available in both batts and blown-in loose fill. You have a lot of flexibility in how you use it. For instance, you can install more in some areas to compensate for other areas of air and heat loss, such as doors and windows. With the additional insulation installed, you’ll be more comfortable in those rooms. You can also choose to boost R-values for sound-proofing a single room. The range of R-values available through layering allows homeowners to meet even the most stringent homeowner’s association, local, or provincial energy code requirements. Fiberglass Insulation Does Not Settle Are you concerned that you’ll lose the benefit of your insulation over time because it will settle and not give...
Fiberglass is one of the most inexpensive and common insulation choices available. It’s almost always used in new construction unless the home is a custom build for a specific customer. While fiberglass doesn’t have the benefits of other insulation options like cellulose or spray foam, it can be a very economical solution to problems with retaining your heat and cold air. Do you have fiberglass insulation in your home, and you’re considering upgrading? Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for your situation! Installing Batt Fiberglass Insulation Fiberglass insulation is installed in sheets called “batts,” which are placed between studs behind the wall. They are inexpensive and simple to use, but they can easily be installed incorrectly. In order to properly insulate your home, fiberglass has to have six points of contact with the cavity, sheathing, and drywall. They have to be cut to fit around electrical boxes, wires, and pipes. Many DIYers install fiberglass incorrectly, by not filling the cavity fully or by compressing the batting. That’s why it’s vital to have a professional install this insulation if you plan to use it. If errors are made in installation, you won’t get the performance you need from this product. R-Values of Fiberglass Of all of the three insulation options – fiberglass, cellulose, and foam – fiberglass has the lowest R-value. There are different types of fiberglass that can help you achieve slightly better results, but you’re still not going to get the performance of cellulose or foam. This is why many homeowners decide to retrofit their homes...
Could your homes cooling efficiency use a boost? Depending on how old your home is you may need to update your insulation. When insulating your home you have several popular options to choose from, but one of the longest and most widely used options is fiberglass insulation. What is fiberglass insulation? Fiberglass is a tried and true method for insulating your home. Even though the technique of spinning glass particles together dates all the back to the Egyptian days, fiberglass as we know it originated in the 1930s. A scientist discovered it by accident when an experiment went wrong resulting in a glass block being melted and blown into long glass strands. He began developing and improving this process and by the 1950s, had a partnership with Chevrolet to use his fiberglass in their car bodies. Fiberglas is essentially small glass particles woven together. It usually comes in sheets with a backing on one side, but can come as loose particles to be blown into space as well. Fiberglass works by trapping air and retarding the advance of moisture, heat, and cold. The effectiveness is based on the thickness of the fiberglass commonly referred to as r-value Pros of using fiberglass insulation Fiberglass is very efficient at stopping or retarding heat, cold and moisture. It can increase the energy efficiency of your home by as much as 40 percent. Hazards and other cons of using fiberglass insulation Not everyone agrees on all the hazards of fiberglass but there is a potential for health concern when installing, or...
While most people don’t give much thought to what’s in their attic or behind their walls, proper insulation is key when it comes to having a comfortable home, lowering energy usage, and preventing moisture problems. The Role of Insulation There are three types of heat flow mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the way heat travels through materials. Convection is the way heat circulates in liquid and gases. And radiation travels in a straight line and heats anything solid in its path. According to the Department of Energy (energy.gov), heat flows from warmer to cooler until there is no longer a temperature difference, regardless of the mechanism. So in the summer, it keeps the warm air outside, and in the winter, it keeps the warm air inside. It does this by trapping pockets of air which slows down the heat flow process. How It’s Rated Insulation is rated by the measurement of resistance the material has to heat transfer, also known as R-value. The higher the R-value the more effective the insulation is. The installation greatly affects the R-value of the material. If installed poorly, this can cut the value substantially. For example, you can install R-30 fiberglass batts but if the batts are not installed perfectly flush with the attic floor, it can cut down to less than half. The reason is because there are gaps between the insulation and the attic floor, which can cause convection heat in those gaps. That heat then turns into radiation heat from the attic floor to inside the home. For more information about R-Value, visit us here. Types of Insulation...
