Types Of Insulation
There is no vapour barrier, so one must be applied to protect the insulation from moisture. (Because loose fill is so easy to apply it's often used to re-insulate an existing home ceiling. Professional insulation contractors also use it as a "blown-in" type for the wall cavities of existing homes. Holes are drilled in each stud space of the wall and the insulation is blown in using a compressor. The holes are then sealed.)Loose fill is manufactured from glass, rock, slag, pulverized paper or expanded mica. The expanded mica type (zonolite or vermiculite) can be used in block-type walls in new construction, where the material is poured directly into the block cores.
(3) Rigid foam plastic insulation
Rigid polyurethane and polystyrene insulation are sold in panels of different sizes and thicknesses. They offer several advantages: high insulation value with minimum thickness and weight, rigidity, sound absorption, vapour barrier.
(4) Foamed-in-place plastic insulation
There are several brands of foam insulation, such as urea-formaldehyde and polyurethane, which can be foamed-in-place in wall cavities. They should be installed by a professional contractor with the proper equipment and considerable experience.
In using these materials, one must ensure that a meaningful guarantee is provided for long-term effectiveness of materials and workmanship and for possible damage to the building from improper materials or their improper use.
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January 7, 2009