Does Adding New Insulation Really Matter? by Dari Payrow, R.S. Andrews

If you’ve been contemplating ways to make your Atlanta home more efficient, you’ve probably given home insulation another look. It’s a great way to make your home more energy efficient.

When selecting insulation, the choice usually comes down to fiberglass and cellulose. They both insulate, but which one should you pick?

R-Value

In order to understand insulation, you have to do a little research on R-value. R-value is a measurement of how well installed insulation blocks heat movement. The higher the number, the better the insulation performs.

According to the International Energy Conservation Code, Georgia homes should be insulated to an R-factor of R-38. If you were to look at many older homes, very few would come in at that rate.

Like any building material, insulation settles and wears down over time. In rare cases, you may find an older home without insulation in the attic at all. Depending on how much is currently in place determines how much insulation needed to bring up the R-value to acceptable levels.

Types of Insulation

There are two ways of bringing in insulation: batt and blown in. Batt insulation is very common; you’ve probably seen it on job sites in rolls. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work very well. It’s difficult to install, as you have to cut it to fit it into place. It’s sometimes difficult to reach every nook and cranny, which means many installers leave those spaces uncovered. And if your attic isn’t fully covered, you’ll have more chances for hot and cold spots throughout your home.

Enter in blown in insulation. As long as it’s properly installed, blown in fiberglass or cellulose insulation can fill every gap and crack in your attic. It’s easier to get precise with how much insulation is put into your attic.

Loose fill is also a good choice when insulating the rest of your house too. It’s easy to drill a hole at the top of a wall and fill in a wall cavity with blown in insulation. It’s one of the most versatile products around.  

Are you ready to make your home more energy efficient? Consider adding blown in insulation for a more temperature-controlled home.

Learn more: https://www.rsandrews.com