Category: Home Insulation

More and more homes are opting to become more energy-efficient. This not only saves money on the electric bill but also helps to reduce the home’s carbon footprint and thus aids in the fight against climate change. Insulation helps reduce the heat that leaves your home in cold winter months and prevents excessive heat from entering your home in hot, humid summer months. 

For a home to be more energy efficient, it needs to be properly insulated. As a building contractor, it’s important to be informed about the best insulation options for new build homes and the benefits that each of these hold. 

To measure insulation, the R-value is calculated. This refers to how resistant the specific insulation is to heat and its ability to either keep heat in or out. 

Types of insulation you should know

1. Batt insulation

Batt insulation consists of fiberglass and mineral wool, also referred to as rock wool. This type of insulation was originally produced in large rolls, but today this insulation is pre-cut into standard industry sizes.

Batt insulation is the most widely used insulation to seal walls, attics, and ceilings. It is also one of the more cost-effective types of insulation that can make a great option for a DIY project. This type of insulation has an R-value of between R-2.9 and R-3.8 for every inch of thickness. 

2. Spray foam insulation

Spray foam insulation is made from either liquid latex or polyurethane foam. Essentially, spray foam is sprayed on cracks and crevices in walls and other hard surfaces. The spray foam then expands and sets in the crack, filling it up perfectly. There are two types of spray foam:

• Closed-cell foam
• Open-cell foam

Between these two options, closed-cell foam is far denser. It has an R-value of 6.2. 

3. Blown-in insulation

As the name implies, blown-in insulation is blown into an area that requires insulation, using a very specific machine. Another name for blown-in insulation is loose-fill insulation. The material is paper-like and is made of fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool.

This type of insulation is ideal for areas that require additional insulation, tricky areas, or areas that require additional attention. The R-value depends on the material it is made of and ranges between R-2.2 and R-3.8. 

4. Vapor barrier insulation

Vapor barriers are used to prevent moisture from entering your home, even if there is insulation. It is typically made of polythene and placed between the cavity and inner masonry skin, on the warmer side of the structure. 

5. Foam board insulation

Foam board insulation is a firm structure. This type of insulation is used to reduce the heat that is conducted through wood or roofs. These foam boards are typically made from one of three types of material:

• Polyisocyanurate
• Polystyrene
• Polyurethane

These insulation boards are ideal for interior or exterior insulation. The R-value of these foam boards ranges between R-4 and R-6.5. 

6. Radiant barrier insulation

Radiant barrier insulation reflects heat away from the home. It is made from one of three types of material, including:

• Polyethylene
• Kraft paper
• Foam board

This material is further covered by a reflective material such as aluminum foil. This type of insulation is both budget-friendly and ideal for DIY projects. 

Regardless of the size of your home, you need a properly insulated attic that will help regulate the temperature and keep your energy bill down. When it comes to your attic insulation, you have different choices. What is the best attic insulation for homes? If you are looking to insulate your attic, here are the pros and cons of the different attic insulation: 

Fiberglass Batt Attic Insulation

It is one of the easiest ways of attic insulation. However, this method also has disadvantages you need to consider. One of the main disadvantages is that this method requires many vapor barriers to protect the insulation from moisture. Moreover, this type of insulation has lower resistance than others. 

Spray Foam Attic Insulation

This method is more expensive than the previous fiberglass insulation. It is made of polyurethane and is sprayed directly to the area that is being insulated. It is perfect for filling the gaps and cracks, and it resists mold and mildew. However, there are also certain disadvantages of this method. One of the main downsides is the cost. Spray foam attic insulation is two to three times more expensive than any other traditional type of insulation. 

Cellulose Attic Insulation

Usually, this type of insulation comes from recycled paper or wood, making it a sustainable and green product. Unfortunately, there are certain concerns related to this insulation method. One of them is that cellulose insulation is treated with a significant amount of anti-flammable chemicals, which means that cellulose presents a certain risk of a fire hazard. However, it is more durable than other insulation types and is quite affordable. 

Mineral Wool Attic Insulation

This type of insulation has been popular in Europe and Canada and is currently getting a resurgence in the United States as well. It is generally more expensive than other methods, but it has certain advantages. Mineral wool is perfect for blocking outside noise from coming into your home. However, it has one very dangerous disadvantage: Inhaling mineral wool is toxic and may even cause cancer. Therefore, you should proceed with extreme caution. 

Ace Insulation Inc. – Unwavering Quality and Excellent Performance

If you are looking for an expert in insulation in Sacramento, CA and other nearby areas, Ace Insulation Inc. is the company you should contact. We specialize in different types of insulation and are focused on delivering quality services and products. Our professionals have over 100 years of combined professional experience, and we have been serving clients since 2011.

If you have any questions about our company or the services we offer, feel free to visit our website or give us a call. 

There’s more than one way to insulate a home. Insulation is available in several different materials and application types. There’s fiberglass insulation, spray foam insulation and even reflective barrier insulation, but one of the more lesser-known types is denim insulation.

Denim insulation or recycled denim insulation is just what it sounds like: home insulation made from recycled denim blue jeans. This might seem odd at first, but consider that denim is a cotton-based material that provides an efficient thermal barrier between what’s inside of it and what’s outside of it.

In this article, we’ll examine some of the pros and cons of denim insulation.

Pros

There are several reasons you may want to use recycled denim insulation in your home, and we’ll cover some of them below:

• Eco-friendly: If you care about the environment, then denim insulation is the home insulation material for you. Made entirely from recycled jeans, denim insulation is a green solution that you can use to insulate your home. For manufacturing, the metal portions of the jeans are removed, and the denim is broken down to its cotton-based form. It’s then treated, bonded and heated before being made into sheets that you can buy as insulation.
• Sound-muffling: Most people don’t think about sound nullification in relation to their home’s insulation, but maybe they should. If you live in a busy area or near train tracks, you’ll be happy to know that denim insulation prevents unwanted sounds from entering your home. Some estimates state that denim insulation is 30 percent more effective at reducing exterior noise than fiberglass insulation.
• High R-value: An insulation’s R-value is a rating that details how well it resists conductive heat flow. Recycled denim insulation is available in a wide range of R-values (from R-5 to R-30) that are on par with or greater than other types of insulation like fiberglass.

Cons

There’s no such thing as the perfect home insulation material, and recycled denim insulation is no exception. Here are a few drawbacks that you may face if you implement denim insulation:

• Difficult to cut: If you’re trying to cut and install denim insulation yourself, you’ll soon find that it’s not always easy to cut. The sheets are usually 3.5 inches thick, and the material is dense, making it harder to slice with a utility knife. They’ve begun to make denim insulation with built-in perforations à la paper towels, so be on the lookout for those.
• Costlier: Because of the involved manufacturing process, recycled denim insulation will usually run at least 10 percent higher than standard insulation materials with the same R-value rating like fiberglass.
• Requires a vapor barrier: Have you ever gotten rained on when you’re wearing jeans? You’ll probably recall that it took them a long time to completely dry out. Denim insulation can be susceptible to the same issue. Because of this, you’ll have to install a vapor barrier to prevent water and moisture from contacting it, and this is an extra expense that is unique to recycled denim insulation.

Call to discuss your denim insulation today

For the green homeowners who aren’t as concerned with costs, recycled denim insulation can be a viable way to insulate their home. If you’d like to discuss denim and other types of insulation, call us at Ace Insulation Inc. We have over 100 years of combined experience in the insulation industry and pride ourselves on doing quality work for a reasonable price, so call us today.

Even though it’s often hidden behind walls and ceilings, insulation is one of the most crucial components of any home. Our houses would be chillier in the winter and warmer in the summer without it. Plus, energy bills would skyrocket if our houses didn’t have adequate insulation.

Needless to say, new-home building insulation should be on your mind if you’re in the middle of building a new house. This post will cover the top types of insulation to choose for different areas of your new house.

Attics

Attic insulation is crucial for keeping our homes comfortable and our energy bills low. Under-insulated attics allow heat to flow freely out through the roof as heat comes up through the lower levels. The top insulation choices for attics are cellulose, fiberglass or spray foam:

• Cellulose: Cellulose is one of the oldest types of insulation and is usually made of recycled materials, like newspaper. This type of insulation can either be blown-in or installed as loose-fill insulation on the attic floor. It’s an inexpensive type of insulation, but it doesn’t form an airtight seal in your attic.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass is the least expensive new-home building insulation on the market, but you get what you pay for. Fiberglass is also the least effective. Batts or rolls of fiberglass insulation still allow for airflow into and out of your attic.
• Spray foam: For the most effective attic insulation out there, be sure to go with spray foam insulation. This is a newer type of insulation made from organic chemical compounds. Once installed, the foam expands up to 100 times its original size to fill in all of the nooks and crannies in your attic. While it is more expensive, spray foam carries a class-1 fire rating and resists mold and mildew.

Open wall cavities

All exterior walls must also be properly insulated to reduce heat transfer and help block out some street noise. For these open wall cavities, we recommend using fiberglass, wet-applied cellulose or spray foam:

• Fiberglass: If you’re looking to save some money on insulation, fiberglass is a good way to go—but expect your house to be a bit drafty in the winter and warmer in the summer if you choose fiberglass.
• Wet-applied cellulose: Wet-applied cellulose is applied differently than the construction insulation mentioned above. This product is mixed with a bonding agent before being sprayed into the wall cavity. The wet cellulose sticks to the cavity and stays there for the long haul.
• Spray foam: Again, it’s tough to top spray foam. Be sure to go with open-cell spray foam as opposed to closed-cell for wall cavities. This is because open-cell foam will move with your home as it shifts and settles.

Get the best insulation from Ace Insulation Inc.

If you’re in the middle of a new build, talk to our team at Ace Insulation Inc. about your construction insulation. From spray foam insulation to loose-fill insulation, we have all of the insulation products your new home needs.

Every homeowner should have a basic understanding of the importance of insulation—it’s what keeps the elements out and your energy bills low. There are tons of different types of insulation out there, all with different R-values, a rating of the insulation’s effectiveness.

Keep reading to learn more about each type and the best insulation for homes:

• Loose-fill insulation: Also known as blown-in insulation, loose-fill insulation is installed using a blowing machine to spread insulation throughout a large area. You’ll often find this insulation used up in attics or in hard-to-reach areas. Loose-fill insulation has an R-value of up to R 8, depending on the insulation material.
• Insulation batts: This type of insulation is essentially an insulation blanket. It comes in precut sections of insulation, typically made of fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool. This is a fantastic insulation for home improvement enthusiasts, as it can be installed without the help of a professional. Standard fiberglass batts have an R-value of R 9 to R 3.8, but there are higher-density batts out there with higher R-values.
• Rolled insulation: The main difference between rolled insulation and batts is that rolls are rolled out between walls and ceiling frames, while batts are installed in pieces. High-density rolls have an R-value of up to R 3 per inch, so they’re highly effective for the price. Plus, these rolls can be cut to any necessary width for a snug fit between studs and joists.
• Foam board insulation: Foam boards are some of the most common types of insulation out there. These rigid boards can be made of polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyurethane, and they can be installed anywhere from the roof to the foundation. Depending on the type of material they’re made of, foam boards can have a very high R-value and are fairly inexpensive.
• Spray foam insulation: With R-values ranging from R 4 to R 5 per inch of thickness, spray foam is possibly the overall best insulation for homes. As this insulation is sprayed into an open crevice, it expands to fill every square inch of available space. This is a more expensive type of insulation, but it can pay for itself over time due to your energy savings.
• Radiant barriers: A radiant barrier is some of the best insulation for attics, but it works differently than the types of insulation mentioned above. Instead of reducing heat flow out of your home, radiant barriers reflect heat from your house. This insulation is made of aluminum foil over a foam board and will keep your home cool on even the hottest days. Another thing that sets radiant barriers apart is that they’re not measured in R-value.

Get your insulation today

Now that you know more about the best insulation for attics and homes, it’s time to install some in your house. While installing some insulation can be a DIY chore, we recommend leaving it up to our pros at Ace Insulation Inc. Contact us today to get a quote for your spray foam or blown-in insulation.