To ATX Radiant Barrier & Insulation, when it comes to finding ways to keep your heating and cooling costs down, there is nothing better than installing attic insulation. This is especially true for those who have problems with their heating bills climbing through the roof. While attic ventilation is an extremely important issue to address, you want to make sure that the insulation in the attic is up to par or else you will continue to see your heating bills climb.
Attic insulation itself is not all that expensive and if you are able to do the work yourself then you are able to save even more money. Remember, even though you may not be in the middle of winter at this very moment, it will come faster than you think.
| Zone | Add Insulation to Attic | Floor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uninsulated Attic | Existing 3–4 Inches of Insulation | ||
| 1 | R30 to R49 | R25 to R30 | R13 |
| 2 | R30 to R60 | R25 to R38 | R13 to R19 |
| 3 | R30 to R60 | R25 to R38 | R19 to R25 |
| 4 | R38 to R60 | R38 | R25 to R30 |
| 5 to 8 | R49 to R60 | R38 to R49 | R25 to R30 |
Wall Insulation: Whenever exterior siding is removed on anUninsulated wood-frame wall:
Insulated wood-frame wall:
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Energy Efficiency Plain & Simple
There are four types to consider when choosing insulation, Batt and blanket, foam board, spray foam and loose fill. Cellulose and the foam board are not flame resistant, the others are. Loose fill and spray foam can be blown into the finished product, the others can’t. All are found in attic insulation and walls.
Spray foam is one type to consider when choosing insulation. The insulation comes in easy to use bottles. It’s sprayed into the area to be insulated. It expands as its sprayed filling all the cracks, giving a better coverage. The initial cost is more, but unlike the others you do not need to winterize later. You will find it in insulated attics and finished walls. It’s the best to use in tight enclosed places.
Loose fill is similar to spray foam because it to is blown into the area. There are two types Cellulose, fiberglass and rock wool. Like spray foam it is used in finished walls and insulated attics. Its R factor is 3 or 4 with cellulose having a 30% higher R factor.
The third to consider when choosing insulation is foam board. It’s made from fiberglass, polystyrene or polyurethane. This insulation is used in edges of concrete blocks, borders, insulated attics and basement walls. The R factor is a little higher than the other it’s R4-R8 per square inch.
The last one is the batt and blanket. It is made from processed fiberglass or rock wool, It comes in 8 ft’ sheets or rolls. This type of insulation is the cheapest but caution is needed when installing otherwise you may not get desired results. You can find this in insulated attics, unfinished walls and floors.
Flame resistance is important when choosing insulation. The two that are not flame resistant is foam board and the Cellulose loose fill. Cellulose being made from paper can reignite. Foam board is required to be covered with dry wall or flame resistant paneling.
When choosing insulation you can be sure that all 4 types are environmental friendly. Fiberglass and slag wool both are made from recycled material, foam boards biodegrades in moisture. The spray on foam does not contain any harmful chemicals.
DESCRIPTION
- A high-quality fiberglass batt or roll used in residential construction for thermal and acoustical insulation of walls, ceilings and floors.
- Unfaced insulation is manufactured in increased widths to permit friction-fit installation in wall cavities. This insulation is used with a separate vapor retarder, such as CertainTeed’s MemBrain™, The Smart Vapor Retarder, or where a vapor retarder is not required.
- Kraft Faced insulation is manufactured with an integral vapor retarder. The kraft facing includes attachment flanges at the edges that are used for either face or inset stapling. The kraft facing, applied with asphalt to the fiber glass insulation, has a vapor transmission (permeance) rating of one perm or less.
BENEFITS
- Thermally efficient to help fight rising utility bills
- Lightweight and flexible for easy installation
- Good sound absorption; reduces noise level wherever applied
- Inorganic glass fiber is noncorrosive; it will not rot or mildew or otherwise deteriorate
- Does not absorb moisture
- Noncombustible per ASTM E136 (unfaced only)
CertainTeed Residential Insulation Information
CertainTeed offers a full line of residential fiber glass insulation products to meet the needs of your business and your customers, including:
- Basement Wall
- Building Insulation – Residential
- High Performance Batts
- InsulSafe® SP Premium Blowing Wool
- NoiseReducer™
- Northern White Blown In Insulation
- OPTIMA® Blown-in Insulation System
- SpeedyR™ Tabless Batts
- TrueComfort™ Blow-in Insulation
- UltraComfort™ Blowing Insulation
Consider it an investment for not just your heating bills but also for the value of your home. If you ever had to sell your home, the added benefit of having attic insulation in the home will show potential home buyers that they too can save money on their heating bills. This makes your home a more attractive choice for anyone looking to purchase a new home.