What To Consider When Installing Insulation in Your Home

With all the instructional resources available on the Internet, doing any project yourself seems within reach. However, experienced insulation contractors know the process of installing insulation has a few decisions and obstacles to overcome. Here’s what to consider when installing insulation in your home to ensure your insulation is put in properly.

Type of Insulation

Some of the most common forms of insulation are fiberglass, spray foam, and blown-in cellulose. However, insulation has also continued to make strides with newer types such as melamine resin made into foam. Picking the right material for your needs is the first step to consider when installing insulation in your home.

• Fiberglass: A material made of a plastic matrix and reinforced by tiny glass fibers, this insulation is commonly found in homes. It’s strong and lightweight, but the glass isn’t a good conductor of heat, making it effective as insulation.
• Blown-In Cellulose: A wood or paper-based product that’s blown into the empty spaces of the home, this is a cheaper option ideal for conforming to the shape of the space or around obstructions.
• Spray Foam: Similar to cellulose, spray foam can mold to specific shapes or around obstructions. It also deters moisture if you live in a humid climate and reduces sound if you have thinner walls.
• Melamine Foam: Relatively new to the insulation scene, melamine is an extremely fire-resistant material, as it’s self-extinguishing. It’s also lightweight, and it has excellent heat and sound absorption.

Safety Precautions

Installing insulation comes with a few hazards, depending on what type you choose. Because it has plastic and glass fibers, fiberglass insulation can breach the surface of your skin, causing hives or itches as glass fibers get into the small cuts. Eye and mouth protection is necessary to keep these fibers and fumes from damaging your eyes or lungs.
Neglect could also lead to mistakes in the installation. For example, you don’t want to remove the vapor barrier on the back of fiberglass insulation. In a more extreme case, you could accidentally create a fire hazard by installing insulation too close to light fixtures or water heaters.

Too Much Insulation

The saying “too much of a good thing” applies here. If you add too much insulation to a room, there won’t be much air for the insulation to trap, and it will therefore become entirely ineffective, making your effort moot. Ensure you’re only adding enough insulation to fill in all the gaps so that heat can’t escape through the walls.

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