You are finally ready to fix your insulation problems, but you do not know which materials to choose. The variety of insulation offered can be scary when we do not know the products and their effectiveness. Whether it is for the basement, attic or aboveground walls, each place has its preferred insulation as well as its own particularities. Here is all the necessary information you will need to choose the right insulation for the room in your home.
Best Basement Floor Insulation
The cement sub-slab in the basement is very cold and damp. To ensure that your floor is not cold for your feet, you need to insulate this area effectively. Our choice of insulation in this case would be sprayed polyurethane. Nothing beats its performance in terms of insulation factor (R6 per inch) and its easy installation, which is done directly on the gravel. Finally, it is not only an insulator, but also an air barrier, as well as a vapour barrier, without the need to seal the finished product.
Interesting Facts
The versatility of spray polyurethane puts this insulation at the top of the list for many other surfaces; to insulate edge joists, foundation walls as well as hard-to-reach places. Although polystyrene is a good product, it does not allow a tight seal between the panels and the joints. Finally, it is impossible to make the polystyrene panels hold perfectly to the concrete in order to avoid possible moisture and mold formation.
Above-ground wall insulation
Most homes built in the 1960s and 1970s do not have a good insulation factor. Fiberglass wool was the most common insulation, but unfortunately, its insulation factor is only R-12. This is why it is necessary to increase this insulation factor, which is clearly insufficient for today’s standards (R-24.5). The best solution would be to cover the walls with Type 2 sprayed urethane. It acts as a vapour barrier in addition to being airtight. You can find this insulation material in the majority of renovation projects.
High-performance attic insulation
When it comes to attic insulation, we recommend opting for cellulose to cover thermal bridges. Cellulose insulation is made of recycled paper and is much less polluting to produce than fiberglass wool. Cellulose has an insulation factor of R-3.7 per inch. In other words, it is efficient, environmentally friendly and in addition, is good for soundproofing. Finally, it is inexpensive compared to other types of insulation. To maximize the effectiveness of cellulose in insulating your existing attic, add 6 to 8 inches of this material. This will cover several holes that could cause heat loss.
What about the insulation installation method?
Now that you have made a choice about your type of insulation, do not neglect the installation. Even if you have chosen the best insulation, if the insulation installation method is not adequate, the result will not be optimal and you risk further energy loss. We therefore recommend calling on professionals who have the necessary expertise to install all types of insulation according to standards.
