When insulating your home, you can choose from many types of insulation. To choose the best type of insulation, you should first determine the following where you want or need to install/add insulation and what are the recommended R-values for areas you want to insulate.

The maximum thermal performance or R-value of insulation is dependent on proper installation. DIY homeowners can install some types of insulation such as batt blankets and materials that can be poured in place. Most other types require professional installation.

To evaluate your blanket installation, you can measure batt thickness and check for gaps between batts as well as between batts and framing. In addition, inspect insulation for a tight fit around building components that penetrate the insulation, such as electrical boxes. To evaluate sprayed or blown-in types of insulation, measure the depth of the insulation and check for gaps in the coverage.

If you choose to install the insulation yourself, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions carefully and check local building and fire codes. DIY homeowner instructions are available from the fiberglass manufacturer. Cellulose insulation should be installed by a professional insulation installer.

The most critical areas to insulate are the areas between studs, joists, and beams. Usually fiberglass batt insulation is installed in these areas and can easily be done by a DIY homeowner.

Blanket or batt insulation is the most common and widely available type of insulation. It comes in the form of batts or rolls. It consists of flexible fibers, most commonly fiberglass.

Batts and rolls are available in widths suited to standard spacing of wall studs, attic trusses or rafters, and floor joists. Continuous rolls are hand cut and trimmed to fit. They are available with or without facings. Manufacturers often attach a facing (such as kraft paper, foil-kraft paper) to act as a vapor barrier and/or air barrier. Batts with a special flame-resistant facing are available in various widths for basement walls and other places where the insulation will be left exposed. The facing also helps facilitate fastening during installation in place. When adding additional insulation over existing insulation the un-faced batts are a better choice.

Standard fiberglass blankets and batts have a thermal resistance or R-value between R-2.9 and R-3.8 per inch of thickness. High-performance (medium-density and high-density) fiberglass blankets and batts have R-values between R-3.7 and R-4.3 per inch of thickness. The R-value for standard typical exterior walls is as follows:

R-11 for 2x4 studded walls
R-19 to 21 for 2x6 studded walls
R-25 for ceiling and basement joist

A properly insulated home will save you money on heating and cooling cost and provide a more comfortable living environment.

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