If someone asked you to name different kinds of insulation used in homes today you might be able to come up with a couple. Maybe the image of the Pink Panther cartoon character pushing a roll of pink fiberglass material comes to mind. Or perhaps you think of someone who looks a little like one of the Ghostbusters spraying foam insulation. What you may not know is that there are (at least) 10 types of insulation materials professional home insulation companies use. Still, none of that matters—until it’s your home the installation is going into. Then it becomes important because it affects your health and comfort—and your home’s energy efficiency.
So what are your options—and how do you choose which type of insulation is best for your situation? Let’s begin by looking at types of insulation. Here’s how energy.gov categorizes some of the major insulation types—including materials used, and where this kind of insulation is applicable.
|
Insulation Type |
Materials |
Where Applicable |
|
Blanket: batts and rolls |
Fiberglass, Mineral (rock or slag) wool, Plastic fibers, Natural fibers |
Unfinished walls, including foundation walls, Floors, and ceilings |
|
Concrete block insulation and insulating concrete blocks |
Foam board, to be placed on outside of the wall (usually new construction) or inside of the wall (existing homes): Some manufacturers incorporate foam beads or air into the concrete mix to increase R-values |
Unfinished walls, including foundation walls New construction or major renovations Walls (insulating concrete blocks)
|
|
Foam board or rigid foam |
Polystyrene, Polyisocyanurate, or Polyurethane
|
Unfinished walls, including foundation walls Floors and ceilings Unvented low-slope roofs |
|
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) |
Foam boards or foam blocks
|
Unfinished walls, including foundation walls for new construction |
|
Loose-fill and blown-in |
Cellulose, Fiberglass Mineral (rock or slag) wool
|
Enclosed existing wall or open new wall cavities. Unfinished attic floors and other hard-to-reach places |
|
Reflective system |
Foil-faced kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard |
Unfinished walls, ceilings, and floors |
|
Rigid fibrous or fiber insulation |
Fiberglass, Mineral (rock or slag) wool |
Ducts in unconditioned spaces Other places requiring insulation that can withstand high temperatures |
|
Sprayed foam and foamed-in-place |
Cementitious, Phenolic, Polyisocyanurate, Polyurethane |
Enclosed existing wall Open new wall cavities Unfinished attic floors |
|
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) |
Foam board or liquid foam insulation core Straw core insulation |
Unfinished walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs for new construction |
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/insulation/types-insulation
Confused? Don’t Worry!
You can see that there are a lot of choices. That can be confusing, but don’t worry. You don’t have to be an insulation expert to make the right choice. There are some home insulation installation contractors who only use one or two kinds of materials. They tend to take a “one-size-fits-all” approach to materials. That makes things easy for them, but is it the right solution for you?
That’s not how we do it at Mass Energy Lab Insulation. While we may install insulation in homes throughout the Boston area, we’re really problem solvers. We’re not interested in simply filling up space in your attic or basement with foam or fiberglass. We want to know exactly what your house needs to ensure that you get the best insulation solution—on that really addresses your home’s issues and provides you with the best comfort and value possible.
That’s why we do a thorough assessment of your home first, using sophisticated diagnostic tools such as infrared camera inspection to check your home for vapor barriers, moisture issues, missing insulation, pipe freezes, cold spots, and a host of other problems that can keep you from getting the insulation results you want. We want to understand your home and then design the right solution to give you a comfortable and efficient home.
Our job isn’t to confuse or confound you with too many choices. It’s also not to take away valid choices because it’s easier for us. Our job is to evaluate your home’s needs and then offer you solutions that will work best for you.
What’s Your Next Step?
If you want an insulation solution that will fit your specific needs like a glove, I’d encourage you to schedule a no-obligation assessment and estimate. See what insulation type and quantity your home currently has and learn all about new opportunities for improvement. We offer a no-cost insulation assessment of your home where we come by, listen to your concerns and respond back within 24 hours or less with various insulation options, with a no pressure approach. We promise not to bury you with options—but will do our best to help you choose the solution that makes the most sense for your home and your family.
