Homeowners shopping for fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Thornhill would be well advised to know the basics. For most, insulating should be about dramatically reducing and eliminating “heat transfer”. It’s referred to as “heat flow” by professionals and it’s not a desirable dynamic for the home. It basically means that warm air is escaping outside in the winter, and warm air from the outside is creeping in during summer. It’s not a good dynamic for any home - and the results aren’t good - energy efficiency is poor throughout the home and the utility bills are usually high.
Insulation contractors regard a home (and other building structures) as an “envelope". Every building is constructed with building materials that will affect the “heat flow”. In certain cases, there’s a positive effect, and in other cases there’s a negative effect. For a homeowner, it’s the insulation that will reduce and hopefully eliminate “heat transfer”. And that’s why it’s critical to choose the right insulation for the job. But whichever the product choice, “heat flow” needs to be properly addressed so that the home’s energy efficiency is vastly improved, and the cost of seasonal utilities will be dramatically reduced.
Clearly, there are a host of insulation products on the market today – along with a host of installation methods. The overall goals, however, remain the same. First - to effectively constrain air movement. Second – to curtail undesirable moisture from accumulating. And third – to boost R-Value when the new insulation is installed. Also important is to have insulation installed expertly. And while many a homeowner might be attracted by the prospect of a money-saving DIY project, the better results are realized when a professional installer manages the installation.
From coast to coast across Canada, and in most of the northern United States, fiberglass loose fill and fiberglass batts are the commonly used products for attics and roofs. A good quality install provides satisfactory R-Value in a given space, and serves to enhance energy efficiency in the home. Both of the fiberglass products have satisfactory lifespans with R-Value levels that will sustain over the long term.
Insulation is one of those home projects that really requires a professional approach. The professional contractor knows how to effectively install a “thermal blanket”, which is key to product performance. With the fiberglass loose fill, it must be blown consistently and uniformly to best perform. And with the fiberglass batts, they must be placed strategically, again for the product to perform.
Under good conditions, fiberglass loose fill and fiberglass batts are safe to install in the home. Neither product contains any asbestos; both are odor-free; and both are air-quality certified for residential use and application. Fiberglass is neither combustible nor corrosive, and most of the better brands will contain recycled “glass”. Fiberglass doesn’t retain moisture in small volumes, and doesn’t settle in its place over the long term.
An installation using fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation should not attract any animals, insects or rodents when well installed. These installations do not provide an environment for mold growth. And when a space is properly ventilated, fiberglass products should not deteriorate. For homeowners thinking about fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Thornhill, it’s a cost effective approach.
As stand-alone insulation products, fiberglass loose fill and fiberglass batts don’t fully address the issues of unwanted air movement or unwanted moisture accumulation. When installed in attics or roofs, this downside should be reviewed with the installer - air and moisture must be fully addressed.
Air movement is often a problem with fiberglass installations. It’s because these products do not fully seal a space. This could be problematic in areas like the roof, attic or basement. The thing is, effective sealing is an important aspect of any installation, and should be fully discussed before any work.
The biggest enemy of fiberglass is probably wetness. Wet fiberglass will eventually lose its product integrity as well as any of the original R-Value. The material will deteriorate over time, and will require professional remediation - removing the insulation; repairing the damage; and re-installing.
Worst case, wet fiberglass can be a welcome environment for mold to grow – eventually, an infestation will compromise the quality of the indoor air. Here, the mold must be removed professionally, and remediation work must commence. This cannot be accomplished by someone without experience.
Because of the downsides of fiberglass insulation, Spray Polyurethane Foam has become the viable alternative in many residential homes. In short, Spray Polyurethane Foam creates an “envelope” of insulation that is totally impervious and prevents air movement as well as moisture collection.
Most insulation projects suffer from air leakage (heat loss or cool loss). But with Spray Polyurethane Foam the installed space is totally airtight – it’s a combination air barrier and moisture barrier in one, and the R-Value is unmatched when compared to any of the other insulating products.
Spray Polyurethane Foam is widely regarded as the best insulation product available. The product performance is hard to match, and as a result, many professionals are installing and recommending the SPF product to homeowners everywhere.
However, the SPF product is not a good fit for all homeowner budgets. And because of this, the experts at G.N.I. (Great Northern Insulation) have developed a “hybrid” install, one that combines the Spray Polyurethane Foam product with the fibreglass product.
This “hybrid” install delivers excellent results. With the SPF product, the space is effectively sealed and insulated, while the fibreglass product brings added insulation and cost-effectiveness to the project. For performance and affordability, a “hybrid” install might well be the best of all options.