Insualtion101: Estimating

Insulation is necessary where ever your home is exposed to the elements of nature. Interior walls, attic space and flooring are all areas of the home that require insulation to protect the home from cold and heat. Insulation not only keeps out hot and cold, it also keeps in the air conditioning and heat, conserving energy and your money. But before you install the first piece of insulation, you need to find out the correct amount you need for your home improvement project. Learn the basics of insulation estimation right here from Construct101.

Which Insulation Do I Use?

Before you break out the calculator and call up local insulation suppliers for prices, you need to determine which type of insulation best suits your home improvement projects particular needs. Installing the wrong insulation can not only cost you more, it can also sabotage your homes ability to properly protect itself from the elements.

Batt, Rolls and Blankets

Blanket, roll or batt insulation is probably the most common form of insulation and is easily the most recognized. If you've never seen the Pink Panther rolling out the pink stuff in the attic then you might not need insulation since you probably live in a cave.

This particular type of insulation works best in walls and ceilings as it fits between joists and studs perfectly. Batt insulation is also the cheapest form of insulation and is the easiest to install. Simply unroll the material and attach it to the joists or studs using a staple gun.

Blown-in or Loose Fill

This type of insulation is probably already in your home in the attic. Loose fill is essentially batt that is shredded and blown into hard to reach spaces like attics and wall cavities. It can consist of cellulose, rock wool, fiber pellets, fiberglass and even green fills like blue jean cotton and sheep's wool. This particular type of insulation isbest installed by professionals with the proper equipment.

Rigid Foam, Spray Foam and Radiant Barriers

Rigid foam insulation is easily installed in sheets or panels. They are typically installed on walls and floors. What makes rigid foam unique is that it can be installed on the interior of the home and the exterior, making exterior wall installation easy even when interior wall coverings are already in place.

Spray foam is the liquid form of rigid foam. Its coverage and ability to totally seal walls, flooring and roofing with insulation is unparalleled compared to other forms of insulation. It is also the most expensive and hardest to install in large formats.

Radiant barriers are basically beefed up tin foil. While this insulation may not seem like much, it works very well in conjunction with loose fill and batt insulation in the attic as radiant energy from the atmosphere is reflected away.