Are you looking to insulate your home? If so, you may be wondering what the best insulation type is. Below, we will go over some of the pros and cons of the best insulation types to help you make an informed decision.
But before that, what insulation even is? Insulation is a material that is used to prevent heat from escaping or entering a space. It does this by creating a barrier between the two spaces. The most common type of insulation is insulation foam, which is made up of small cells that are filled with air or gas. After reading this article, you may want to consider installing home insulation by iFoam insulation company.
There are many different types of insulation available on the market, each with its own set of pros and cons. The best insulation types are:
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation is made from glass fibers that are spun into a mat. It is then used to fill cavities in walls and ceilings. Fiberglass insulation is effective at blocking heat transfer and is often used in homes and office buildings.
This insulation is most effective when it is installed properly. If it is not installed correctly, it can settle and leave gaps that allow heat to escape. Fiberglass insulation is also known to irritate the skin and eyes, so it is important to wear protective clothing when handling it.
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Non-flammable
CONS:
- Can irritate skin and eyes
- May cause respiratory problems
- Not eco-friendly
Polystyrene Insulation
Polystyrene insulation is made from small beads of expanded polystyrene (EPS). It is often used on walls, ceilings, and floors. Polystyrene insulation is effective at blocking heat transfer and is often used in homes and office buildings. This insulation type is also used in the insulation of refrigerators and freezers.
You haven’t heard it called “styrofoam” insulation in a while, have you? Well, that’s because Dow Chemical trademarked the word “styrofoam” in 1941, so now it can only be used to describe insulation made from EPS.
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Non-flammable
CONS:
- Not eco-friendly
- May cause respiratory problems
Polyurethane Insulation
Polyurethane insulation is made from two liquids that are mixed together and then sprayed onto surfaces. It is often used on walls, ceilings, and floors. Polyurethane insulation is effective at blocking heat transfer and is often used in homes and office buildings.
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Non-flammable
CONS:
- Not eco-friendly
- May cause respiratory problems
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products that are treated with fire retardants and chemicals. It is then used to fill cavities in walls and ceilings. Cellulose insulation is effective at blocking heat transfer and is often used in homes and office buildings.
This insulation type is also used in the insulation of Attics. Most insulation companies will use a blower to blow the insulation into the attic space. Have you ever had insulation blown into your attic? If so, you know that it’s quite a messy process!
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Non-flammable
CONS:
- Not eco-friendly
- May cause respiratory problems
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is made from two liquids that are mixed together and then sprayed onto surfaces. It is often used on walls, ceilings, and floors. Spray foam insulation is effective at blocking heat transfer and is often used in homes and office buildings. Research has shown that spray foam insulation can also help to reduce noise. Hence, it is often used in soundproofing applications.
PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
- Non-flammable
CONS:
- Not eco-friendly
- May cause respiratory problems
As you can see, there are many different types of insulation available on the market, each with its own set of pros and cons. When choosing insulation for your home, it is important to consider your needs and budget. We hope that this article has helped you to understand the different insulation types available and their pros and cons.
Did you know that there were different types of insulation you can use in your home? What do you feel are the best insulation types?
That is such a useful article as I live in an area where the temperatures change a lot during the year and proper insulation is needed.
Great information with all the pros and cons , and learned something new about the insulation types.
We used foam insulation for our roof when we recently constructed our second house. I should have referred to this when deciding what insulation to use.
These are some great tips! I have a lot of things to consider when insulating my future home!
We’re planning to have some work done on our roofing. It’s great knowing these options for insulation.
Your pros and cons list for the best insulation types was very informative. I appreciate how you laid out the advantages and considerations succinctly.
I like how you layed out all the pros and cons of getting this done. It is so important to find the best insulation for your home. I just had this done about a month ago and we did our research first to see which type was best.
We plan on working on a home soon and these tips definitely eased me! I love that you go over the pros and cons, such a great help.
after reading all these details on the various insulation types (and i didn’t know there were so many), i really hope that a more eco-friendly option becomes available soon
I am familiar with some of the insulation types because I watch a lot of renovation shows. I think we have the Polystyrene Insulation in our house.
I had no idea there are a lot of insulation types. I am only familiar with the polyurethane. Too bad it’s not a healthy choice but I guess all the options available are health hazards as well so, we don’t really have much choice.
So many options for you to insulate your home! Hard to choose a favorite! Thank you for all this great info!
I didn’t know that there are so many options to insulate your home. I often see the spray foam only.
Complete and beneficial information for insulating our backyard. Thank you.