Fiberglass loose fill insulation and fiberglass batt insulation in Kawartha Lakes

There are advantages to understanding the basics of home insulation

For homeowners contemplating fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Kawartha Lakes, there are advantages to understanding the basics. The idea with a home insulation project is to potentially eliminate what experts call “heat transfer” or “heat flow”. During the winter, it’s about inside heat flowing out. And during the summer, it’s about outside heat flowing in. Neither of these air dynamics is a good situation. Undesirable “heat flow” makes the home completely energy inefficient – and with that comes utility bills that are high – something that no homeowner wants.

The insulation experts see a home (and other buildings) as an “envelope". The “envelope” comprises building materials that directly affect “heat transfer” – sometimes in a positive way, sometimes in a negative way. And when it comes to insulating a home, the whole idea is eliminating those negatives. It’s therefore essential to choose and install insulation that will effectively address “heat flow”. In this way, the energy efficiency of the home can be dramatically improved, and the overly high utility bills can be dramatically reduced, whether it’s for winter heating or for summer air conditioning.

Most homeowners are already aware that there are many insulation products and install methods on the market. But whatever the option, the main goals of insulation remain the same – to effectively stop any unwanted air movement; to effectively stop any unwanted moisture (or vapour) from collecting; and to significantly increase R-Values in areas where new insulation is being installed. Also important with most insulation projects is to work with a professional. Yes - there are cost savings with the do-it-yourself installation, but the best results are achieved by a professional with experience.

Over the years, fiberglass insulation has become a popular option

For many homeowners across Canada and in various parts of the northern States, fiberglass insulation (batts and loose fill) has become popular options. They are used most commonly in attics and in roof cavities, and bring satisfactory R-Values wherever installed. Properly installed, fiberglass insulation can improve a home’s energy efficiency, reduce seasonal energy consumption, and provide a good lifespan for the insulation. R-Value should sustain for many years.

As with many conventional home projects, home insulation requires its own specific expertise. And it’s the professionals who best understand the products and the installation - especially when creating a “thermal blanket”. With fiberglass batts, for example, the batts need to be installed strategically so that the finished install works. And when installing loose fill insulation, the application must be perfectly uniform so that “thermal blanket” is effective and does its job properly.

There are various benefits to installing the fiberglass products

Professionally installed, as per product specifications, fiberglass insulation is safe. Fiberglass is free of asbestos; free of odor; air-quality tested and certified. The finished install will not combust or corrode. Fiberglass insulation contains quantities of recycled “glass”, and does not generally retain moisture (in small quantities). Professionally installed, fiberglass should not settle in place over the long term.

The fiberglass products do not attract animals, rodents, or insects. And when properly installed, the finished environment is not a welcome environment for mold. With proper ventilation as part of the insulation project, fiberglass should not deteriorate. For homeowners thinking of fiberglass insulation in Kawartha Lakes, it’s an installation that is cost-effective.

There are also some disadvantages with fiberglass insulation

For the professional, fiberglass insulation does not completely address the fundamental problems of air movement and/or moisture accumulation. This is a definite disadvantage when insulating the attic because air and moisture are serious challenges. It’s an issue worth discussing with the contractor.

Another issue is residual air movement - also problematic with fiberglass insulation. The problem is that fiberglass doesn’t seal - even with the best of installations. And effective sealing is critical for insulation to properly perform - without effective sealing, insulation values are compromised.

The most serious of issues with fiberglass insulation is wetness. Wet fiberglass insulation will lose its integrity and will lose its R-Value. And if this condition is left unresolved, the fiberglass will deteriorate to a point where it requires remediation – in other words, removal, repair, and reinstallation.

The very worst situation is one where wet fiberglass results in a mold infestation. Here, depending on the extent of the infestation, the only viable option may be to remediate the space professionally.  At this point, this is work for an expert who has appropriate experience with mold removal.

For professionals, Spray Polyurethane Foam has become the go-to product

Because of the inadequacies of fiberglass, Spray Polyurethane Foam has become a product alternative for many professionals. One single application of SPF creates an insulating “blanket” that prevents the undesirable movement of air and the undesirable accumulation of moisture.

For most home insulation projects, air leakage is an inherent problem – it means that indoor heat and indoor cooling are leaking out in winter and summer. This does not occur with Spray Polyurethane Foam because the finished insulated environment is totally sealed and airtight.

SPF does it all with one install - it’s an air barrier, a vapor barrier, and an insulation barrier with R-Values that are unmatched by any other comparable product.

The “hybrid” approach to insulation - a combination of SPF and fiberglass

Spray Polyurethane Foam is the best insulation product on the market. The product performance is unequalled, and professionals are recommending the install for attics and basements alike. However, the SPF product is not always suitable for every budget – it’s a premium insulation product that has a premium price. Because of this, the “hybrid” approach has become popular.

The “hybrid” approach combines SPF with one of the two fibreglass products. It’s an application that brings benefits from both products with additional R-Value, cost-effectiveness, and excellent dollar value – a great option for any insulation project.

For homeowners thinking about fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Kawartha Lakes, combining SPF with fiberglass may be the best option of all.