If you’re looking to increase the insulation level in your existing home, you undoubtedly want to choose the very best material for the job. So which is it, fiberglass, spray foam, or cellulose? The answer largely depends on where you’re insulating.
What Is the Best Attic Insulation?
The attic is the most cost-effective place to insulate an existing home. This helps prevent heat from rising up and out of your home. The best types of attic insulation include:
- Fiberglass: As the most affordable insulating material, fiberglass is also the most popular. It comes in convenient batts and rolls that make it easy to install between ceiling rafters and attic floor joists.
- Cellulose: Blown-in cellulose is an eco-friendly way to insulate your attic with bits of recycled newspaper treated with flame retardant chemicals. You can install it in a bare attic or directly over existing fiberglass batts for an added layer of insulation.
- Spray foam: Good for filling oddly shaped spaces and blocking air flow as well as heat transfer, spray foam makes for very effective attic insulation. The biggest drawback is the higher cost per square foot compared to other materials.
What Is the Best Wall Insulation?
While you must hire a professional to install wall insulation in your existing home, it’s possible to do so without tearing down the drywall. Your two options include:
- Cellulose: With a row of siding removed from the outside of your home, the contractor can drill a hole between each joist and inject loose-fill insulation into the wall cavity. Sealing the hole and replacing the siding makes it appear as though the job never happened, but your energy bills will certainly reflect the upgrade.
- Spray foam: You can also inject spray foam using the method described above. Foam is especially effective because it air seals as well as insulates against heat flow.
What Is the Best Crawl Space Insulation?
If you need to insulate the crawl space beneath your home, you have two options:
- Fiberglass for the crawl space ceiling: If the floor joists are built to code, you can easily fit fiberglass batts here to improve the insulation between your home and the crawl space. This method is recommended for ventilated crawl spaces.
- Spray foam for the crawl space walls or ceiling: If your crawl space is unventilated, you should seal it off from the elements with wall insulation. Because the walls of your crawl space are prone to condensation, you need moisture-resistant insulation for the job, making spray foam your best bet. Spray foam is also appropriate for insulating the crawl space ceiling.
What Is the Best Basement Insulation?
Insulating a basement has similar rules to insulating a crawl space. We recommend these materials:
- Fiberglass for the basement ceiling: If the basement is unheated, seal it off from the living area above with fiberglass batts between the floor joists. If you have an unheated garage with a room above it, insulate the ceiling here in the same manner.
- Spray foam for the basement walls or ceiling: As the best insulation for damp spaces, spray foam is perfect for basement walls and ceilings where moisture is common.
Install the Best Insulation in Your Albany, NY Home
No matter which part of your home requires an added layer of insulation, let Builders Installed Products Albany complete the installation for you. Our proven techniques ensure the best results for a more comfortable home and less expensive heating and cooling bills.
To learn more about our insulation products, or to request a free job estimate, contact Builders Installed Products today!