Fiberglass Loose Fill Insulation and Fiberglass Batt Insulation in Waterloo

Homeowners should understand the basics of home insulation

For homeowners considering fiberglass loose fill insulation or fiberglass batt insulation in Waterloo, it’s an advantage to understand the basics. In general, the overall purpose of insulation is to prevent “heat flow”. In winter, it’s about preventing indoor heat from leaking out, and in the summer it’s about preventing outdoor heat from coming in. Neither summer nor winter “heat flow” is desirable in the home – they both contribute to an indoor environment that is not energy efficient. And the result from one season to the next makes for utility bills that are substantially higher than they really should be.

For the experienced insulation expert, a residential home is a “building envelope". It’s constructed of materials that affect “heat flow” throughout the home. Some of the materials have a positive influence on the home, while others have a negative influence. And when insulation work begins, the primary aim is to remove the negative influences. That’s why choosing an insulation product is so vital – it’s an installation that will effectively remove “heat flow”. In the end, the home will be more energy efficient, energy consumption will be reduced, and seasonal heating/cooling bills will be measurably lowered.

Homeowners generally know that there are countless insulation products out there. Clearly, each of the products will make promises and claims about performance and reliability. However, bottom line, insulation should focus on three main areas: stopping air movement; stopping moisture collection; and enhancing R-Value. Also important to consider, like other home improvement projects, is to work with a professional. It’s true that many a homeowner could save money by taking on a DIY project with insulation, but its also true professional insulation contractors will get better long-term results.

Fiberglass insulation is a popular insulation product

Fiberglass insulation is popular throughout Canada, and in the northern United States. Loose fill and batts are commonly installed in both attics and roofs, and usually provide satisfactory R-Value. A high-quality fiberglass installation will improve energy efficiency in the home, and will noticeably reduce energy consumption from season to season. When properly installed, fiberglass has a satisfactory life span and the installed R-Value should hold up for many years to come.

Like other home improvements, particularly the more substantial projects, home insulation requires expertise. For this, professionals have an advantage – they know the different insulation products, and they have on-the-job experience with the installations. For example, a loose fill application must be perfectly uniform and consistent to deliver insulation performance. It’s the same with fiberglass batts, which must be strategically installed in order to ensure performance.

There are some benefits to installing fiberglass products

For the best performance results with fiberglass insulation, the manufacturer’s product specifications must be followed. These products are safe for residential installation, and many of the brands are air-quality tested. Fiberglass insulation is manufactured to be non-combustible and non-corrosive. The products are also free of any asbestos content. Also, there is usually a certain amount of recycled glass.

A proper fiberglass installation will not provide a welcome environment for animals, rodents, or even insects. There must be proper ventilation installed, and with good circulation, fiberglass will not allow mold to grow and spread. Proper ventilation also ensures that a fiberglass install will not deteriorate. For those considering installing fiberglass insulation in Waterloo, this is a cost-effective approach.

There are also disadvantages to installing fiberglass

As popular as it is, fiberglass insulation does not address some of the concerns of the experts. For example, fiberglass insulation does stop air movement entirely, and it doesn’t completely stop moisture from accumulating. In the attic, this is particularly problematic and should be addressed.

In general, air movement is also a problem with fiberglass insulation. It’s problematic because neither of the fiberglass products will seal a space. And for the experts, sealing a space is vital for insulation to perform. Indeed, when a space is not effectively sealed, optimum insulation performance isn’t assured.

The biggest downside of fiberglass is in a wet environment. Understandably, wet fiberglass loses its overall product integrity as well as its R-Value. In unique situations where this is unobserved, an entire area may start to deteriorate, at which point removal and reinstallation would be the only recourse.

A wet fiberglass environment may also encourage mold to grow. This type of situation is not rare, and may require remediation if the mold growth is serious. Clearly, this remediation work should be left to an experienced professional. Here, mold removal is necessary, as is the reinstallation of new insulation.

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) as an insulation option

Because of the disadvantages of fiberglass, many insulation professionals have been opting for SPF as a viable insulation option. SPF is a single application that does more than any other comparable product. It seals a space to impede air movement; it creates a vapor barrier that stops moisture collection, and it installs better insulation value than any other product.

SPF effectively stops air leakage (and eradicates “heat flow”) during the winter and summer. This is particularly important in a space like an attic and roof because the SPF creates a totally sealed and airtight environment. There’s really no other product that can compare with the benefits and level of performance of Spray Polyurethane Foam.

A “Hybrid” installation may well be the most cost-effective

There’s not much debate that SPF is the best product on the market. That’s why professional installers are using the product in attics, roofs, basements and even garages. As it is, SPF is not suitable for every homeowner’s budget. It’s a premium product and can be costly. This is why Great Northern Insulation has developed their “hybrid” installation – an approach to insulation that is highly cost-effective.

The “hybrid” approach from Great Northern Insulation combines SPF with either fibreglass batts or fibreglass loose fill. It’s a combination that delivers benefits from both insulation products, along with excellent results. The SPF does the sealing and insulating, while the fibreglass adds supplemental R-Value within a cost-effective install. For many, the “hybrid” approach may well be the best option.