Things to Look at When Selecting Residential Insulation
Residential insulation is not just for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures all year round by protecting your house against hot temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter — it also keeps your annual heating and cooling bills as low as possible. Other benefits of adding insulation to your home include blocking out external noise while keeping in the good noise and improving the indoor air quality.
Given the importance of residential insulation, you'll want to make the right decision for your home. This requires carefully assessing your needs and choosing residential insulation that will work well. Here are some considerations for selecting the right insulation for your house.
Your home goals
While the primary purpose of insulation is to keep your home's temperatures stable all year round, it can serve many purposes in buildings. Before choosing insulation for your residential building, establish other reasons for wanting to install insulation. Do you live near a busy street and want to block outside noise? Are you aiming for improved indoor air quality?
Many different types of insulation exist for different residential applications. Let the goals you've set for your project guide you on which one will work best.
Where you want to add insulation
The different types of insulation that are available on the market today do not just vary in terms of their purposes but also where they can be used. Are you looking to insulate the attic space, walls, or ceilings of your house?
You may need to combine different insulation products based on the different areas of the home that you want to insulate.
Your local climate
The type of insulation you'll require also depends on the climate of the area your home is built in. Homes located in regions that experience harsh winters or summers will generally require a greater level of insulation than those located in moderate climate zones. Keep this in mind when choosing insulation materials for your home.
Your residential design
Your home's design is another factor to consider in determining which kind of insulation to use. If it is passively designed (designed with energy efficiency in mind), your house may not need a high level of insulation.
Insulation products are rated by their R-value. The higher the value, the better the insulation. That said, the different areas of your home that you want to insulate may have specific R-value requirements. If you need help determining which types of insulation products will suit your residential needs, consult a local expert.
