It is essential to choose the right building insulation because you will spend most of your time at home. You want it to be comfortable and warm. You also want to save money on your monthly energy bills.
To ensure that your home is energy-efficient, you need to reduce the amount of air moving in and out. Air leakage must be controlled to avoid future moisture problems.
Air movement can be blocked by creating an air barrier. This air barrier can prevent air from leaking into or out of your house, which can be responsible for up to 30% of the home’s cooling and heating costs, , according to U.S. Department of Energy.
We have collected information to help you, the homeowner, learn more about the insulation materials most commonly used in the construction of new homes.
The Best Insulating Materials for New Construction Homes
The most common building insulation materials include fiberglass and cellulose.
We’ll start at the top and work our way down.
Spray Foam, Cellulose, or Fiberglass Insulation is the Best Attic Insulation for New Homes
Attic insulation will help you keep your money and hard work from leaking out of your roof. It is essential.
Open cell spray foam, cellulose, and fiberglass are the best options for roof insulation in an attic.
The oldest available insulation material is cellulose. The material can either be blown in or used as a loose-fill for the attic. Cellulose is made primarily from recycled newsprint and denim.
Comparing other materials, cellulose insulation is cheaper to use for attic insulation.
Although cellulose is a less expensive option, it will settle to up to 20%, shift to the side of your attic and does not create an air seal. Air will flow freely in the attic if there is no air seal.
Fiberglass, another form of traditional insulation, is found in many homes throughout the country. The glass fibers are extremely fine. It is attractive because it’s the least expensive, but it’s also the least effective.
The attic can still be ventilated with fiberglass insulation.
Spray foam insulation creates the best air barrier for the attic. Spray foam insulation can grow up to 100-fold its original size. This allows it to fill all the cracks and crevices of your attic.
Water-blown organic compounds and petroleum extracts are the main ingredients of certain spray foams. The material is therefore environmentally friendly.
Spray foam insulation is expensive compared to other insulation methods.
Spray Foam, Fiberglass or Wet Applied Cellulose Insulation is the Best for Open Wall Cavity Insulation in New Homes
It is important to insulate the wall cavities that you have left open when building a new house. This will keep your home comfortable and free of drafts.
The recommended wall insulation is the same as for the attic and rest of the home. It should create an air barrier to stop air leakage. You have three common options for wall insulation: fiberglass batts and wet-applied cellulose.
Insulation can impact both the comfort and energy efficiency in your home when it is working properly.
Fiberglass insulation is available in rolls or batts and can be installed into the wall cavities.
Wet Applied cellulose is applied differently than a standard pack of cellulose. The material is mixed together with a binding agent, and then sprayed in the cavity of the wall. When mixed correctly, wet cellulose adheres to the wall cavity without the need for netting as with dry blown cellulose.
Spray Foam Insulation can be sprayed in the wall cavity to form an air barrier. Open-cell spray foam is better than closed-cell. Open cell spray foam is the best option for a home that tends to settle and shift.
Open cell and closed-cell spray foam insulation are similar, but there are some differences in their application, efficiency and general performance in comparison to other structures and homes.
Closed cell foam can be very dense and rigid. It is also heavier and less pliable.
The open cell spray foam can expand up to 100 times. It is a great option for homeowners because it can get into the cracks and crevices of attics, crawlspaces, and rim-joists.
Closed-cell spray foam expands very little when applied.
“flash and Batt” is an option that some contractors might suggest. It is a combination between spray foam insulation and fiberglass batts. A contractor will apply a “flash”, or a closed-cell spray foam, to seal the air and then cover it with fiberglass batts. You may initially think “That’s even more insulation. Why is that bad?”
If done correctly, this hybrid model might work. Many contractors recommend this method to save money and to apply the closed-cell flash at a smaller thickness than the 2 inches required to create an effective air seal. This could cause future problems.
If you use the performance method, it is not necessary to add the additional fiberglass if the closed-cell foam is 2 inches thick.
Air can still enter the house through traditional insulation materials like cellulose or fiberglass. This means that during winter, the heat will be lost while cold air gets in. Foam insulation is unique in that it acts both as an insulator, and also an air seal.
Spray Foam or Fiberglass: Which is better for crawl space and rim joist insulation in new homes?
If you’re building a new home, you don’t want the cold floors and drafts that come from the walls or bottom of the house. You also do not want frozen pipes.
If you use the correct material, you can prevent this from happening. Fiberglass and Spray foam are the two main options.
You will need to use an insulation material for both the crawlspace and the rim joist that is non-water sensitive. This will prevent the interior air from touching a cold surface.
If you allow interior air to be regularly moist, it can lead to condensation and encourage mold and mildew. Fiberglass batts do not work well in either of these areas.
Once wet, fiberglass holds moisture. It will encourage mold and mildew to grow and cause it to sag in the area where it is installed. Spray foam insulation does not do any of these things.
Building Science Corporation suggests using foam insulation for these areas due to the air-seal it creates.
Spray Foam Insulation to Meet the Building Code
Is a code that many builders look to meet, even when it comes to insulation.
Both builders and homeowners try to meet building codes by following the prescriptive requirements. The code will require materials and assemblies to meet a specific rate, score or measurement. The performance method is an alternative to meeting code.
The performance method is generally used when a material or product offers an advantage outside the code. Foam insulation, for example, provides an air-seal, but this is not considered in the insulation requirements.
If you choose an material to create an air seal then its performance will exceed the prescriptive rating. It will therefore pass code if using this method.
You can discuss with your contractor the plan you want to follow to achieve performance.
How to Choose the Best Insulation for a New Home Construction
House insulation in Wellington will improve the comfort of your home and its energy efficiency for many years.
Home insulation options are plentiful for new homes. Each has its pros and cons. It is important to be aware of all your options before building the house of your dreams, whether you’re looking for energy-efficient insulation materials or the most cost-effective ones.