Fibreglass Loose Fill Insulation and Fibreglass Batt Insulation in Parry Sound

Every homeowner should understand the essentials of home insulation

Eventually, every homeowner has to think about home insulation. For those thinking about fibreglass loose fill insulation or fibreglass batt insulation in Parry Sound, it would be good to understand some of the basics. The main idea when insulating is to eliminate what the experts refer to as “heat transfer”. This is when heated (indoor) air flows out of the home in winter. In summer, it’s when outdoor heat flows into the home. Both of these scenarios are unwanted – they make a home energy inefficient; they make for higher than average utility bills; and they create additional energy costs that are undesirable.

The experts see a home as a “building envelope” – one that is made of various building materials that directly affect “heat transfer”. In some situations, the direct effect is a positive dynamic, while in some situations there’s a negative dynamic. Therefore, when insulating a home, the objective is to decrease and/or eliminate the negative dynamics. That’s why it’s critical to install residential home insulation that will effectively address “heat transfer”. And for the homeowner, the benefits are noticeable and measurable: improved energy efficiency; balanced heating/cooling cycles; and reduced utility bills.

For the most part, homeowners know about the range of insulation products available to them. But whichever product is eventually chosen, the aim of insulating should stay the same - to stop the unwanted movement of air; to stop the unwanted accumulation of moisture; and to augment R-Value. Probably the most important thing when insulating a home is to work with an experienced contractor. Professionals have the product experience and expertise to achieve better results. And while its known that there are savings with a DIY approach (do-it-yourself), nothing quite beats a professional touch.

Fibreglass insulation is popular with many homeowners

For homes in most of Canada, and in many parts of the northern USA, fibreglass insulation has become a popular option. Whether in fibreglass batts or loose fill, the products are widely used in both attics and roofs, providing satisfactory R-Value wherever installed. With a proper installation, fibreglass products can serve to improve energy efficiency, while reducing energy consumption throughout the entire year. Both fibreglass batts and fibreglass loose fill provide a satisfactory product lifespan.

Like many of the home improvement projects from year to year, home insulation requires expertise. The professionals understand both product and installation - they are expert in creating an effective “thermal blanket”, and they strive for peak performance with every installation. With loose fill insulation, for example, the install requires consistency and uniformity to be effective. And with the fibreglass batts it’s similar - they need to be installed strategically to deliver peak performance.

There are a number of benefits when installing fibreglass insulation products

When professionally installed (according to the manufacturer’s specifications) fibreglass insulation is safe and non-toxic for residential use. Fibreglass insulation is free of asbestos; non-combustible; and non-corrosive. The better brands have been air-quality tested. Fibreglass insulation usually contains recycled “glass”, depending on the brand. And for the most part, the installation will not preserve any moisture (in small quantities). Finally, a good install will not settle measurably over the long term.

Better quality fibreglass products are chemically treated to resist animals, and rodents, and insects. A finished installation will not provide a hospitable environment for mold to develop, grow, or spread. However, the insulated space must be properly ventilated for fibreglass to perform. And this will also eliminate the potential for the fibreglass to deteriorate. Homeowners considering fibreglass insulation in Parry Sound will benefit from a good quality product, and a cost-effective insulation project.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides to fibreglass insulation

For the professionals, fibreglass insulation does not properly address either air movement or moisture accumulation. This is a disadvantage in a space like the attic because air and moisture will compromise the integrity of the insulation and therefore the performance of the product chosen.

Another issue, particularly in the attic space, is air leakage. Again, fibreglass insulation is problematic. As a stand-alone installation, fibreglass products do not seal a space, even when professionally installed. And for the experts, sealing a space is critical for insulation to perform as advertised.

The biggest overall problem with fibreglass is wetness. Wet fibreglass will lose product integrity, and will quickly lose valuable R-Value. When undetected, wet fibreglass will deteriorate until it needs full remediation – in other words, complete removal and reinstallation of a singleinsulation.

Worst-case, wet fibreglass will encourage mold to grow and to spread. And when an attic space suffers from mold, the only remedy is removal and reinstallation. Here, a mold removal specialist is required, followed by an insulation professional to re-install the insulation from scratch.

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) has become the “go-to” product for professionals

Because of the downsides of fibreglass, Spray Polyurethane Foam has become the “go-to” product for many professionals. SPF is a one-time application that provides an insulating “blanket” in the attic or roof, and stops undesirable air movement/moisture collection.

With a professional application, SPF also addresses air leakage. With SPF, a finished install is totally airtight. The space is completely sealed, preventing indoor heat from flowing out during winter, and preventing outdoor heat from flowing in during the summer months.

The “hybrid” approach – an installation that combines both fibreglass and SPF

Spray Polyurethane Foam is recognized as the best product on the market. Today, insulation experts are routinely recommending it for attics, basements, and attached garages. But as a premium product, SPF may not suit every budget. And because of the premium cost, some professionals recommend a more cost effective approach – the “hybrid” install.

The “hybrid” install is a combination of fibreglass insulation and SPF insulation. It’s an approach that benefits well from both insulation products. The SPF portion provides superb sealing and insulation, and the fibreglass portion provides supplementary R-Value and a cost-effective component. In the end, this approach allows for excellent dollar value.