5 Reasons To Choose Blow In
Insulation
By Erica Bosworth
Insulating your home is pure and simple the number one way to save money on
energy costs. In the old days floors and walls were lined with just about
anything to keep the moisture and cold air out of home. Renovations have
revealed that even old newspapers were found packed into wall and floor boards.
Today insulating is a science all its own. There are R-factors assigned to
different material and methods of insulating that give homes and buildings an
appropriate amount of protection for their geographic region. The higher the R
rating, the better insulated the home.
One of the top rated insulations is relatively new to the industry –
probably no more than a couple of decades old – and that is blow in insulation.
The Benefits of Blow In Insulation
There are several benefits to blow in insulation over rolls of fibreglass
insulation. The benefits include the method of installing it, its energy
efficiency and where it can be used. Here are the top 5 reasons to consider
using blow in insulation:
1. Blow in insulation is adjustable. Depending on how much material is used,
it can create a protection with an R value of 15-38.
2. Only virgin materials are used to create most blow-in varieties of
insulation. This means there a reduced chance of allergies.
3. Blowing the material into the crevices allows for a tighter fit and seal.
It can be directed around corners, beams, or wiring that may already be in the
walls.
4. Installing blow in insulation is fast. A barrier, referred to as a
blanket is stapled to all of the 2x4s to keep the material from floating away
and adhering where it isn’t wanted. Then a small slit is cut into the blanket. A
hose is inserted and measured amounts of the insulation are blown into place.
5. This type of insulation is extremely energy efficient. As it is blown in
it expands and adheres to the surrounding surfaces. It fills even the tiniest of
cracks as it does this.
The Complete Installation Process
After attaching the blanket to the surrounding boards, the small opening cut
into it allows the hose to be pointed in all directions around the wall or
ceiling. After the material is in place the blanket’s slit is closed and taped.
This blanket does not act as a moisture barrier, it just control the spray. The
material itself resists moisture.
Drywall or other wall materials are then installed right over the insulation
blanket. In a renovation project this means that an entire wall would not have
to be removed in order to insulation. Take an extremely old home for example.
There may be no insulation at all. Instead of removing layers of plaster wall,
you could simply make a hole, position the hose and fill the walls will energy
efficient insulation. Then patch the wall and the job is complete.
The blow in insulation is more expensive than traditional insulation.
However, experts estimate that energy savings is so great that within 2 to 4
years those costs are recovered.
Erica Bosworth is a publisher for the
http://www.soundproofing-tips.com internetsite. In his publication the
author is working on topics like
blow in insulation and others.
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