Without insulation, a newly framed building is just a shell—it’s the insulation that keeps out the cold, the heat, the noise and the draft that’s indicative of an unfinished frame. But what exactly is insulation? What form does it take and what purpose does it serve? And, more importantly, what makes one type of insulation better for an application than another one?
To understand the critical importance of different types of building insulation in Little Rock, AR, we need to take a look at some of the most common types of insulation and what they represent when it comes to attributes and support. This means getting down to the composition of the insulation itself and examining rigid, blown, batt and rolled types of insulation as the core necessities of a construction job:
- Rigid insulation usually takes the shape of foam and gypsum board, which is usually installed in floors, ceilings and unfinished walls, to provide a higher r-value for a lot less thickness, due to higher density.
- Blown insulation most generally refers to cellulose insulation that’s blown between wall cavities. Most often this is also the premier form of building insulation for existing structures, since the installation is minimally invasive.
- Batt insulation is installed by section, with multilayered fiberglass batts being pushed into place between cavities. This is typically a great DIY material because it’s inexpensive, easy to install and easy to remove. It’s also applicable in nearly every cavity of a building.
- Rolled fiberglass is the most common and oldest form of traditional building insulation and, like batting, can be easily installed for a low cost.
Now, while all of the above insulations are tried, tested and true when it comes to building developments, it’s important that the right medium is use in the right application for full effect. In fact, it’s also tremendously important to ensure that one type of insulation isn’t being overlooked for another based on a single variable, such as cost. As a result, many contractors and building professionals will thoroughly vet the application, before they pick the insulation!
To this point, it’s also important to realize that these four core forms of insulation aren’t the end-all, be-all of building insulation in Little Rock, AR. In fact, many new construction projects are relying on the likes of spray foam and even concrete forms to increase the insulated properties of a building. Factor in building standards like LEED and you might find several forms of insulation throughout the development!
What all of this boils down to is options: there are numerous options for insulation, which means solutions for every installation. Knowing which option meets the needs of each installation means picking the right one and having the peace of mind that comes with efficiency, longevity and, of course, optimal r-value.
If you’re planning a home improvement, new construction project, addition or any other type of development, make sure you’re consulting with an insulation contractor when the time comes to fill in that frame!