If you’ve been researching insulation – whether for a residential or commercial installation – it would have become quickly apparent that there are two varieties that you can choose from – these are bulk insulation and reflective foil insulation. If you weren’t aware of this, though, now you are! These two types of insulation provide different advantages, so choosing the right one for the job at hand is important. The question then becomes: which one is right for you? In this article, we take a closer look at these two insulation types to help you have a much better idea of which one is right for you.
Choosing the right insulation for the job at hand
Whether you’re looking for ceiling insulation or floor insulation in Gippsland, understanding how insulation applies to your situation is important. bulk insulation is a form of insulation that affects conduction heat flow between objects that are touching, while reflective foil insulation affects radiation heat flow. Bulk insulation is widely considered the best type of insulation due to its ability to trap millions of tiny pockets of still air within its insulating structure. It is these air pockets that offer resistance to heat flow, giving the material a highly efficient insulating effect. For this reason, it is important to not compress bulk insulation in any way, as this compression can very easily reduce the size of the air pockets and cause the material to lose its impressive insulating properties. If you’re interested in bulk insulation, you should know that is available as batts, blankets, boards and loose material. Batts and blanket insulation are ideal for use in ceiling insulation, with the range of batts and blankets including polyester, natural wool, glass wool and rockwool. Board insulation is typically used in spaces where there is little space between the ceiling and the roof, while loose-fill insulation, available in cellulose fibre, polyester, natural wool and granulated rockwool, can also be used in in ceilings.
Other insulation considerations
If you’re not wanting to use bulk insulation for some reason, then reflective foil insulation might be worth a try. Reflective foil insulation effectively reduces heat transfer across an enclosed space, making it an ideal option for walls or as sarking under the roof, as it reflects radiant heat away from the interior of a building during steamy summertimes. There are a few ways you can make the most of reflective foil insulation: first, it should be noted that this type of insulation is most effective when placed with the reflective side facing an enclosed air space of at least 25m, and it needs to remain clean, as dust can very quickly reduce the insulating effectiveness of the material. Gaps too, will result in poorer performance – this one is particularly easy to manage, as it will simply require a thorough approach to installation.
Understanding your insulation needs
If you’re still a bit confused about the quality of your insulation, it’s worth looking into the R value. In insulation, the R value measures a material’s thermal resistance. The higher the R value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer, which means that the effect of insulation is also improved. If you’re still unsure, though, its always a good idea to talk to a professional, as they’ll be able to provide a solution tailored to your needs.
