5 Essentials Everyone Must Know Before Insulating Their Homes

 

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating your existing one, insulation can help you keep your house in good condition for a long time.

 

However, the trick lies in implementing a carefully considered insulation strategy, including air sealing and ventilation.

 

Such traits do wonders when we talk about increasing your home’s energy efficiency, hence reducing your utility bills.

 

Now, when we talk about insulation, there are many different kinds, which makes it hard to choose the right one for your remodeling project or your new home!

 

In this guide, we will be mentioning some of the essential things that you must know if you’re considering insulating your homes!

 

So, lets’ get going:

 

1. Choosing the materials:

 

Choosing the insulation materials is the most important thing in the whole process.

 

To go with the best option, you must consider an insulation type that resonates with the design of your home and climate zone.

 

Of course, unless you’re an expert, knowing such details is not easy. In such cases, it would be best if you called your local insulation contractors.

 

Locating them is super simple. For example, if someone lives in Ottawa, they can Google and just search insulation contractors in Ottawa. As you explore the internet, you will come across an insulation contractor that can offer the best advice for home insulation based on the design of your house and region.

 

Nevertheless, here are some go-to insulation methods that contractors use:

 

1. Exterior Walls
2. Attic
3. Wall Sheathing
4. Foundation Walls
5. Slabs

 

If your house is still in the building process, you are at an advantage. Remember to talk about your home builder to discover the strategy they will implement to insulate your home.

 

Additionally, your questions should also revolve around figuring out the type of materials that they will use, where they will place them, and how much you will need to insulate the house properly.

 

2. Choosing a good Insulation contractor

 

Now that you know the type of insulation material used in your house, let’s talk about the second most important aspect; choosing experienced and skilled insulation contractors for the job.

 

An insulation contractor is a person who will look after the entire process of installation. Insulation contractors will work hand-in-hand with your home builders to make the best of the situation.

 

Choosing experienced personnel is necessary as they know their way around the job and will offer you the best possible services in this regard.

 

Remember, how well the insulation is installed will also weigh in on the effectiveness of the insulation material that you have bought for your house.

 

For example, if you installed any fibrous insulation materials, the insulation value would drop significantly if any cracks or gaps appeared.  So, not buying good insulation material is required, but you should also choose a professional.

 

Choosing a professional can get the job done in the right way, and they will also avoid the common attic insulation mistakes which amateurs make.

 

Another benefit of going with a professional is that they will be aware of different varieties of insulation.  Additionally, they will also know how to provide the required thermal protection, or as the experts like to say, “R-Value” to your house.

 

3. Stay vigilant

 

When we talk about home renovations, small details can make a huge difference. 

 

So, when we talk about the installation process, you must make sure to keep a check on your insulation contractor.

 

Keeping checks on them will give you peace of mind, and you can also ensure that they are doing the best possible job. Or in the language of experts, the contractor must install the thermal insulation to maximize the thermal management properties.

 

So, when the insulation is in the works, be frequent about visiting the construction site so that you can ensure that insulation is being put in as desired. Sometimes, the insulation materials get smashed into the wall cavity, which affects its functionality.

 

Also, look around the junction boxes and check if the insulation is put around the back. You will want to make sure that the wiring and pipes are also insulated. Your contractor must split the insulation with one side of it placed around the wire, so the wire becomes encased.

 

The same idea goes for the pipes as well. Not covering the pipes with insulation material can result in the pipes freezing into the wall, which piles on as a problem.

 

4. Don’t rush anything

 

Rushing the process is a bad idea when we talk about insulation.

 

Rushing the installation process might result in blocking the grills and the vents. The main task of the mentioned components is to regulate the air throughout your house.

 

So, make sure that you don’t rush your contractor. Also, you should make sure that your insulation contractor doesn’t cover up the access point to your house’s ventilation system.

 

Keep an eye on your attic area as it can help you identify the areas that your contractor will need to avoid as access points. Ensure to check the attic beforehand during the installation process.

 

5.  Where do you install the insulation?

 

At this point, you know about the various types of insulation materials. You also understand what you can expect your insulation contractor to do.

 

In this step, we will be talking about knowing where you must install the insulation materials in your house.

 

The professionals have this idea of creating an insulation system, a “building envelope.” A building envelope ideology means that you can use different types of insulation depending on the area you are talking about.

 

Here are some of the areas that you should insulate, as suggested by the U. S. Department of Energy:

 

• Attic: Attic is the first area that you need to insulate. For insulating an attic, either fiberglass or cellulose makes for a great choice.

 

• Interior and Exterior walls: Walls come next on the list. For insulation walls, you can use materials such as fiberglass batts, foam, or cellulose.

 

• Floors: Next up on the list is floors. You can use rigid foam boards or traditional fiberglass batts to attain the best insulation on the feet.

 

• Crawl Spaces: In case you don’t know, crawl spaces are the raised areas present under your house, making for a sweet spot for accessing plumbing and electrical works. Fiberglass fits the best for crawl spaces.

 

• Basements: This one goes out for the people that only have basements in their houses. To insulate the cellars, you can use rigid boards or fiberglass.

 

Final Words

Insulating your house makes for one of the best ways to deal with the cold weather. Protecting your home can improve your winter experience by a huge mile, so we’d say that insulation is worth it.

 

Here go all the important things that a person needs to keep in mind when insulating their homes.

 

However, if you think that we may have missed a spot, be sure to mention it in the comments section!

 

Author bio

About Ashley Rosa: Ashley Rosa is a freelance writer and blogger. As writing is her passion that why she loves to write articles related to the latest trends in technology and sometimes on health-tech as well.  She is crazy about chocolates. You can find her at twitter: @ashrosa2.