Ceiling Insulation Perth your ceiling helps save energy, decreases pollution and your ecological footprint. It also keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
Earthwool ceiling insulation is super-soft and easy to handle and install. It’s made from recycled glass and a sustainable formaldehyde-free binder. It’s non-combustible and has a 50-year warranty.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is one of the most popular insulation materials for walls, ceilings, and floors. It is inexpensive, easy to install, and can significantly improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort. However, it has some health and environmental drawbacks that should be considered before installing fiberglass insulation in your home.
Fiberglass insulation is made from a network of fine glass fibers that create a barrier to heat flow. The air in between the fiberglass fibers traps a layer of warm, moist air that slows down the transfer of hot and cold air. The thickness of this barrier determines the resistance to heat flow, which is called R-value. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.
This type of insulation is available in a blanket form that’s commonly called “batts” or in bags as loose-fill that can be blown into wall and floor cavities. It’s also available in a variety of different thicknesses, which is what determines its R-value. The best choice depends on the size of your house and the amount of insulation you need.
If you’re building a new house or doing a gut renovation, fiberglass batts are the easiest option. These large rolled-up sheets are held together with either reflective aluminum foil or paper acting as an adhesive vapor barrier. They’re designed to fit between standard stud and joist spacing. This makes them a good choice for DIY insulation projects.
The problem with fiberglass is that it can emit hazardous chemicals when it breaks down or gets wet. This is especially true when the material is in contact with your skin. The tiny fiberglass particles can penetrate your pores and cling to your body, leading to itching, rashes, and breathing problems.
If you’re interested in avoiding the health hazards associated with fiberglass, consider other options. One great choice is natural wool, which can be an effective alternative to fiberglass. The wool is derived from sheep that are raised on sustainable farms. The wool is then woven into a knitted fabric, which is durable and comfortable.
Cellulose
Cellulose is an eco-friendly option for insulating your home. It’s made of recycled newspaper and other waste paper products, making it a good alternative to fiberglass insulation. It’s also a good choice for older homes, which often have inadequate levels of insulation. The nonprofit energy-efficiency and weatherization company I work for uses cellulose to insulate buildings used for residential group homes, elderly housing, and other community projects. These old houses are crammed with pipes, ducts, and wires that make it difficult to insulate using traditional methods. But blown-in cellulose can reduce energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and reduce noise transmission.
In its raw form, cellulose is a fibrous material that’s similar to straw or sawdust. Modern cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers, cardboard, and other paper products that have been treated with fire retardants. It can be blown as loose-fill insulation in attics or dense-packed into walls and floors. It’s also available as a wet-sprayed product for new construction. When wet sprayed, water is added to the cellulose insulation to activate its natural starches and bind it together. This helps it resist mold and pests, and it helps it retain its R-value over time.
Although cellulose insulation has been around for decades, it’s recently increased in popularity. This may be due to studies that suggest it protects buildings from fire better than fiberglass and other fiberglass insulation materials. It’s also made from a high percentage of recycled content, and it has less embodied energy than fiberglass or furnace-produced mineral insulation.
While cellulose is an eco-friendly choice, it isn’t without its downsides. Its dustiness can be a nuisance, and it’s typically recommended that installers wear masks when installing cellulose. This is especially important for blown-in cellulose, which can create more dust than other insulation types.
It’s also a little heavier than other insulation, and it loses its R-value over time as it settles. However, it has one major advantage over other insulation types: It can be installed into wall cavities that already contain fiberglass batts or cotton batting. A skilled cellulose professional can snake a fill tube into a wall and add dense-pack cellulose over the existing batts, achieving a full application that won’t settle over time.
Spray foam
Spray foam is a type of insulation that can be used in many different ways, but is most commonly sprayed in an attic to seal the space between the attic floor and the roof. It is often paired with cellulose or fiberglass insulation to increase its effectiveness. It is also a popular choice for walls because it provides a great air barrier and can be used in conjunction with vapor barriers.
Whether you are adding spray foam to the attic or wall, the first step is to remove any existing insulation and clean the area where it will be applied. If you are insulating an attic, you will need to remove any ceiling fixtures and move anything that can be moved out of the way. You will then lay down a protective sheet to prevent spray insulation from getting on things it shouldn’t.
The crew will then apply the liquid spray foam to the surface using a specialized spray gun. It is mixed from two components and reacts immediately to create a foam that expands several times its initial volume. This allows the foam to fill in any gaps, cracks and crevices and create a seamless and airtight seal. The foam will then begin to cure and harden.
When choosing a spray foam, look for one that is low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This means that it doesn’t produce harmful fumes and can be safely used indoors. Avoid products that use HFCs, as these chemicals are being phased out due to their climate impact.
Another good choice for spray foam is medium-density closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF). It has a high R-value and acts as an air barrier in addition to providing thermal insulation. Unlike open-cell foam, ccSPF doesn’t retain water and can resist mold and mildew growth.
As a writer, Amanda focuses on topics related to green home building and energy efficiency. She has extensive experience as a journalist, having worked as a breaking news and crime reporter and TV news producer in Flint and Detroit. She currently writes content that helps to educate homeowners about the benefits of foam insulation. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and rescued huskies.
Rigid board
Rigid foam board insulation is made from hardened plastic and comes in sheets that are easy to cut on-site. It is available in a variety of thicknesses and R-values, which makes it appropriate for virtually any space in a home. It is used to prevent thermal bridging and improve energy efficiency, while also providing soundproofing and vapor proofing. It is often used to insulate foundation walls, basements, regular walls and roofs.
Foam boards can be purchased from local hardware stores or home improvement centers. Foam insulation can be placed between wall studs or drywall and is best installed by a professional contractor to ensure proper coverage and air sealing. It can be expensive, but may offer better long-term performance than cellulose or fiberglass insulation. It can also be damaged by moisture or sunlight, so it should not be placed on exterior walls or in areas prone to leaks or condensation.
Expanded polystyrene board (EPS) and extruded polystyrene board (XPS or “blueboard”) are common rigid foam insulation products. Both offer high R-values in a slim and lightweight product. EPS is produced without the use of HCFCs, which have moderate global warming potential and ozone depletion potential, making it the greenest choice among rigid foam insulation. XPS is manufactured with a foil and plastic facing, which make it water resistant and suitable for insulating foundation exteriors.
A common problem with rigid foam insulation is a lack of moisture resistance. Regardless of what brand you purchase, it is important to treat it with a water-resistant vapor barrier during installation. In addition, it is a good idea to treat all seams with a quality sealant to prevent air leakage.
One downside to rigid foam insulation is that it is not particularly fire-resistant, even when treated with a water-resistant vapor barrier. However, it is possible to find insulation that does not use toxic flame retardants like TCPP or PBDEs.
For a more eco-friendly option, natural fiber or mineral wool rigid foam insulation can be purchased. These products are favored by environmentally-minded builders and homeowners. They are made from recycled materials or hemp fiber and do not contain any petrochemicals or other synthetic substances. However, they do require some special precautions during installation because they can shed irritant particles.