Wall insulation is important in a home that is both comfortable and efficient in spending energy. The wall helps control the circulation of air inside the house; likewise, it also helps in maintaining optimal room temperature. If you feel that the home’s existing insulation on your wall is not enough, then it is time for a new layer. If you are planning of building your home, then consider having an efficient insulation system.

 

The type of wall insulation is dependent of the actual existence of the wall. If the house is already built and furnished, then loose-fill and sprayed insulation are to be chosen. These types of insulation affect little of the finished walls. If your house is still under construction, try considering one of these insulation types: blanket; concrete block; rigid foam; insulated concrete form; reflective; and structural insulated panel.

 

Houses are traditionally built through the stick-frame method. If your house is currently using this type of construction, advanced wall framing techniques to increase the R-value of the walls while reducing heat bridging and maximizing insulation area. Advanced framing replaces lumber with insulation material, thus the increase of the R-value. Also, this type of framing saves construction costs as less material and labor are utilized.

 

Nevertheless, your stick-frame house should use foam insulated wall sheathings rather than the traditional wood or mineral wall sheathings because foam insulators have a higher R-value rating – a foam sheathing about a half-inch thick yields an R-value of 2 to 3.5. The layer of insulation is continuous through the wood studs so that thermal bridging is reduced. Foam sheathing, when compared to other types of sheathing, is easier to manage and put up. It is also less cheap than plywood or oriented strand board.

 

If your house is being built with structural insulated panels, insulated concrete forms, and concrete block insulation, there is no need for additional wall insulation to be installed. The walls have built-in insulation, thus the house saves energy efficiently and is very comfortable.

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