Fiberglass Loose Fill Insulation and Fiberglass Batt Insulation in Niagara Falls

It’s helpful to understand the basics of home insulation

Without getting overly technical, it’s helpful for the typical homeowner to understand home insulation.  And for those considering fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Niagara Falls, understanding the basics will make a big difference. The essential purpose of insulating a home is for stopping unwanted “heat flow”. In winter, you want to stop indoor heat from leaking, and in summer you want to stop outdoor heat from creeping in. In short, “heat flow” is not a good dynamic for any home. It makes for a home that is not energy efficient, and it makes for higher utility bills from one season to the next. Good insulation, on the other hand, can quite quickly reduce heating/cooling costs.

Insulation professionals refer to a home as a “building envelope". That “building envelope” is built with materials that have an impact on “heat flow”. Some of those materials have a positive impact, while others have a negative impact. So when insulation work commences, the aim must be clear:  getting rid of the negative impacts of “heat flow”. Hence, it’s important to choose insulation that will be right for the job. Here, a good quality product, along with a quality installation will ensure that “heat flow” is arrested and energy efficiency is restored throughout the home. The result: much improved energy consumption, as well as reduced heating bills in winter and reduced cooling bills in summer.

Today, homeowners usually know about the different types of insulation products that are available. And although every product makes a variety of claims, choosing can be confusing. But for all insulation products, the objectives should be the same, regardless of product chosen. First, it’s important to stop unwanted air movement. Second, it’s important to prevent moisture from collecting. And third, it’s important to enhance R-Values. Finally, it’s worthwhile for the homeowner to consider working with an expert installer. And even though dollar savings can be had with a DIY approach to home insulation, it’s the professional approach that will bring about better outcomes, both short term and long.

Fiberglass insulation is popular in Canada and the United States

In Canada, and in most parts of the northern U.S.A., homeowners have installed fiberglass insulation in two popular formats - loose fill and batts. Attics and roofs are a common installation, where very good R-Values can be assured in a given space. Properly installed, fiberglass should serve to improve energy efficiency in a home, and should reduce seasonal energy consumption noticeably. Fiberglass insulation should also deliver a good lifecycle, and the R-Values should maintain integrity for years.

Installing fiberglass insulation in a home is much like any other home project – for a good job, there’s a need for expertise. Here, it’s the professionals who best understand the products, and who have the relevant installation experience. For example, an expert installer will ensure that loose fill insulation is uniform and consistent, and will provide optimum performance. Similarly, an expert will install the fiberglass batts strategically in order to ensure the most effective coverage and best R-Value.

There are benefits to choosing fiberglass insulation products

Like anything, fiberglass insulation will best perform when installed according to the manufacturer’s product guidelines. Fiberglass insulation is safe for residential use, and most of the better products are also air-quality tested. The products are non-corrosive, non-combustible, and asbestos-free. And for the most part, the fabrication process ensures a certain amount of recycled glass content.

Fiberglass insulation is manufactured to deter rodents, animals, and insects. However, it’s key to have appropriate ventilation throughout the installation space – this will prevent mold from developing, and will inhibit any deterioration over time. For homeowners who might consider fiberglass insulation in Niagara Falls, this is truly a cost-effective product and installation that will deliver results.

There are also some drawbacks to installing fiberglass

Fiberglass does not address all of the issues relevant to insulating. The product does not completely stop air movement, and does not completely stop moisture from accumulating. When installing in the attic and roof cavity, professionals consider this to be a big problem.

Another outstanding issue with fiberglass is air leakage. Fiberglass batts and fiberglass loose fill are not designed to seal, and the result is air leakage. For insulation professionals, sealing is essential for the insulation to perform – otherwise, performance is compromised.

The biggest drawback with fiberglass is wetness. A wet fiberglass environment will ultimately lose its integrity and its R-Value. And when left unattended, wet fiberglass will deteriorate. This will entail the complete removal and reinstallation of the entire insulated space.

Worst case, wet fiberglass can potentially promote mold growth. Needless to say, this would require an expert to remediate. This is specialized work for a professional who has the experience with mold, and the expertise to safely remove the mold-infested insulation.

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) has become an alternative

Because of the drawbacks associated with fiberglass, SPF has become an alternative product option. It’s a unique product that can do more with a single application than any other product. SPF will stop air leakage/movement; it will stop moisture collection; and it will provide the highest R-Values.

Importantly, SPF arrests “heat flow” - and in the attic and roof, this is critical. The SPF application will create a sealed and airtight environment where insulating performance is guaranteed. Simply put, there is no other insulation product that can provide the same kind of benefits and performance.

Another alternative - the “hybrid” install – it’s the most cost-effective

While many insulation professionals are installing SPF in attics, walls, basements, and garages, it’s still a premium product that may not suit all budgets. Because of this, Great Northern Insulation suggests the “hybrid” install - it delivers excellent results while remaining cost-effective.

The “hybrid” install essentially combines the SPF product with one of the fibreglass products. It’s an install that benefits from each insulation product – the SPF serves to seal and insulate, leaving the fibreglass to supplement R-Values, and ensure cost-effectiveness to the project.