Insulation Perth helps regulate a home’s interior temperature and reduce energy bills. It prevents heat from escaping during winter and keeping a home cool in summer.

It also reduces noise generated by appliances, piping, and communication lines.

It’s best to include insulation in a new home, but it can also be added during renovations. Some types like spray foam and blown in fiberglass or cellulose require wall removal, while others are inserted behind walls and between framing such as studs and joists.

Insulation slows the flow of heat in and out of a home or building, helping to keep spaces comfortable without consuming as much energy. Depending on the type of insulation used, it can prevent warm air from escaping in the winter, cool air from entering in the summer, or both!

Effective insulation can dramatically reduce the need for heating and cooling systems, saving you money on your energy bills. It decreases the amount of energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature and reduces the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels to power these systems.

The ability of a material to restrict heat flow is determined by its thermal resistance or R-value, which is determined in part by how tightly the material can be packed and by the material’s density. The higher the R-value of an insulation, the more effective it is at preventing the transfer of heat.

Bulk insulation materials such as fiberglass, cellulose, rockwool and natural fibers use pockets of still air to slow the movement of heat by conduction. Still air is a poor conductor of heat, so these pockets of air significantly decrease the ability of conduction to pass through the insulation. Rigid foam boards also use pockets of air or another gas to slow the movement of heat.

Convection and radiation are two other methods of heat transfer that insulation can slow, reducing the need for energy to be spent on heating or cooling. However, the R-value of a specific insulation can drop over time as some of the low-conductivity gases escape and are replaced by air, making it important to properly air seal a space before adding or replacing insulation.

Insulation is designed to decrease the transfer of heat in all three ways, but it is most effective when protecting against air leakage. Air leakage is a significant source of comfort problems and energy loss, contributing to high heating and cooling costs. Adding insulation to your home can increase comfort, reduce drafts and energy use, and save money on your monthly energy bills.

Insulation Materials

There are many different types of insulation materials. They are categorized by their composition (natural or synthetic), form (blankets, loose-fill, spray foam, and panels), functional mode (conductive, radiative, and convective), resistance to degradation from compression, moisture, and decomposition, environmental impacts, and health risks. There are also a number of products that combine different insulation materials into a single form.

The most common type of insulation is fiberglass. It is available in blankets or rolls, in a variety of thicknesses and R-values. Most fiberglass insulation is made of extremely fine glass fibers. It is also produced in medium and high-density versions that offer higher R-value per inch of thickness.

Cellulose and mineral wool are other common insulation materials. Both are derived from recycled paper products and require treatment to improve fire, mold, and insect resistance. Cellulose is shredded paper that is treated with inorganic salts, such as boric acid, and then compressed into insulation batting. It can be installed blown in or damp-sprayed, depending on the application.

Polyurethane and isocyanurate foams are also often used as insulation. They are injected into spaces using a spray gun and expand to fill the space, creating an airtight seal that prevents heat transfer through gaps. These foams can be sprayed on concrete slabs, into wall cavities of an unfinished building, or against the sheathing and drywall in a finished wall.

Structural insulated panels are another popular type of insulation material. These panels consist of two rigid board sheathing materials with insulating foam between them. The foam is generally made of expanded or extruded polystyrene (EPS or XPS) or polyurethane (PUR). The sheathing materials are typically oriented strand boards.

Other insulation materials include cotton, hemp, straw, rock or slag wool, and natural fibers that are treated to increase their resistance to fire, mold, and insects. Most of these are eco-friendly home insulation options, and most must be treated with a flame retardant to meet OSHA requirements. Some of these are available as continuous insulation, which is inserted between studs and joists. This can reduce thermal bridging and improve energy efficiency.

Insulation Placement

Insulation slows air flow, helping to keep a home’s temperature stable and cutting down energy costs. Most of us think of insulation as being placed between wall studs or in the attic, but there are many other places to insulate a house. Walls, floors over unheated garages or crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, basement walls and floors over attics all need a good dose of insulation.

The type and thickness of insulation needed depends on your climate. For example, colder climates need insulation that works well to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. Other areas of the country need a balance of both functions.

Bulk insulators, such as fiberglass batts or mineral wool batts, resist conductive and convective flow of heat through building cavities like walls, attics and floor joists. The material has small air pockets within the fibers or inside foam or plastic bubbles that help to insulate the space.

The thickness of the product and its R-value determine how well it performs. R-values are indicated on the product’s label. The higher the R-value, the more resistant it is to heat transfer.

Foam insulation (either board or sprayed on) is a great solution for those looking to add more R-value to their home without adding an additional cavity in the walls. Foam is also an excellent option for areas that are difficult to insulate, such as gaps around plumbing, electrical boxes and light switches, ductwork or other components.

Some insulation products combine bulk and reflective insulation, for example foil-faced boards and blankets. When using this type of insulation, the direction of the foil needs to be considered to ensure condensation is not a problem.

For attic installations, it is best to follow the insulation manufacturer’s guidelines for installation. This will ensure the best results and help prevent the possibility of damage to the roofing system. For wall and ceiling installations, be sure not to force insulation into place as this can compress it and diminish its insulating properties. The goal is to create a tight, consistent wrap of insulation around the entire house.

Insulation Installation

Insulation is an essential part of a home, protecting it from excessive heat transfer during winter and summer, and lowering energy bills. Professional insulation installation is the best way to ensure a comfortable indoor temperature, maintain the integrity of the structure and reduce the strain on heating and cooling systems.

Our professionals can assess your existing insulation and recommend the proper types and amounts for your home. They can also identify areas where air leaks are present and use caulking or spray foam to seal these gaps, ensuring that your home is as efficient as possible.

There are several different insulation materials available to meet your home’s needs, with the most common being fiberglass batts and rolls or cellulose. These are typically installed in attics, crawl spaces, basements, and cathedral ceilings, as well as side walls. When choosing the right insulation, you’ll want to consider its R-value. This number looks at how resistant it is to thermal transfer, with higher numbers indicating greater insulating power.

Fiberglass is the most commonly used insulation material in homes, and it comes in both loose-fill and blown-in forms. It’s easy to work with, as it can be cut or torn to size and then inserted between framing like studs and joists. It’s important to wear protective gear, including eyewear, gloves and a face mask, when working with fiberglass as it can be a skin and lung irritant.

Other common insulation materials include cellulose and spray foam. Cellulose is made of recycled paper and can be loose-fill in attics or densely packed into building cavities such as wall cavities and cathedral ceilings. Spray foam goes on as a liquid and expands to fill space, sealing air leaks more effectively than other insulation types.

For walls, the facing on the insulation should be positioned against drywall to prevent moisture from condensing and causing mold or rot. Foil backing can be installed as a radiant barrier to keep heat from reflecting off the walls and into rooms below.

For new construction, insulated concrete forms are modular units that are dry-stacked and filled with concrete to form floors, walls, and ceilings for energy-efficient, durable buildings. These are a cost-effective alternative to poured concrete, allowing for quick and easy installation.