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Insulation Materials and Installation: Sandwiched within building materials, insulation provides a thermal envelope between a home's conditioned inside air and the outside intemperate air. Insulation is a material with low-thermal-conductivity and it is provides a barrier, not only thermally, but also acoustically. In order for insulation to be an effective thermal barrier air leaks must first be sealed to block air infiltration (drafts) and to curtail air exfiltration (heat loss).

There are oodles of a materials that are used for insulation. Choosing the insulation material that is right for your new home construction or for a renovation involves knowing more about the four basic groups of insulation: batt insulation, blown in insulation, rigid foam insulation and sprayed on insulation.

The most common insulation, by far, is precut fiberglass batts. Batt insulation is also constructed with mineral or rock wool and recycled cotton.

For fiberglass insulation to be effective and achieve its maximum R-value it must, MUST, MUST be properly installed. Don't think that filling 95% of a home's gaps and cavities you'll only be missing 5% of your R-value. Voids, holes and leaks mean air currents, which exponentially reduce your home's resistance to heat loss.

It's like a plastic bucket. It doesn't matter how thick the plastic is, if it has a hole it will not be waterproof. Insulation needs to be airtight to provide a thermal barrier.

Insulating older homes can be tricky as the spaces between the framing studs are often irregular and the precut batt sizes don't always fill the openings. Insulation installers need to fill the full width and length of these gaps. Cutting the insulation too short, not fitting the batt around electrical cables, plumbing pipes or allowing the an oversized piece to bulge will decrease the insulation's R-value by providing spaces for air movement.

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