Types Of Insulation
You can choose from four basic types of home insulation:(1) batt and blanket
(2) loose fill
(3) rigid foam plastic
(4) foamed-in-place plastic
(1) Batt and blanket insulation
This has a soft, woolly texture and is made from fibres of glass, rock or slag. It is the most common type and is probably up in your attic right now.
The batts are sold in pre-packaged bundles, in 4-foot or 8-foot lengths. They vary from 2 to 6 inches in thickness and come in standard widths — to fit snugly between uniform centre ceiling joists, studs or wall strapping.
Blanket insulation is sold in rolls of varying lengths, widths and thicknesses.
Both types are sold with or without an attached vapour barrier. This barrier is a protective coating on one side of the insulation — using wax, tarred kraft paper, aluminum foil or plastic — to guard against moisture damage which would reduce the insulation's effectiveness. (Vapour barriers and their uses are discussed again further on.)
Batts or blankets are used to insulate frame or brick houses — in walls, over ceilings, under floors, in crawl spaces and garages. They can be used on poured concrete and block basement walls where framing has been applied.
(2) Loose-fill insulation
Loose-fill insulation is sold by the bag and may be in pellet, fibrous or granular form. When properly used, it leaves few air gaps or pockets and forms an effective heat barrier. In wall cavities, however, it may settle over the years and leave a poorly insulated gap at the top.
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November 20, 2008