Two Types of Insulation that Must Be Done at Time of Home Construction

Many homeowners think about insulation and energy loss. They try to get the best energy saving items for their home to help keep utility bills down, help the environment, and reduce energy waste. However, there are two types of insulation that will need to be done while your home is being built. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these are ICFs and SIPs.

Insulating Concrete Forms, or ICFs

A set of interconnected foam boards or blocks, ICF systems are hooked together with plastic ties. It can be insecticide treated or waterproofed to help the foam webbing be resistant to the groundwater and insects that it can have access to. Some of the types of ICF systems include a flat system that is nearly like a poured wall form, a grid system that has a waffle-looking system of thicker and thinner sections, or a tilt-wall system where flat walls are poured on a deck and then tilted into position by a crane.

Structural Insulated Panels, or SIPs

These are prefabricated insulated structural elements that have superior insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, they have a 12 percent to 14 percent energy savings compared to traditional construction methods. It also can make a house quieter. Usually, SIPs have 4 inch or 8 inch thick foam board insulation that are put between two OSB, or oriented strand boards. These can be done in many different sizes, some even go as big as 96 x 288. When shopping for this type of insulation, you will need to read about their warranty and their quality control system. The life of the performance of a structural insulated panel is only as good as their quality of manufacturing.

These two differing types of insulation are both very good for keeping a household warm or cool. Determining which type is best for your home construction can be talked over with your contractors, with a choice being made for the best system for your family's expectations. Energy loss is reduced in either of the two types of insulation systems.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy