Insulation Perth is an essential component of building a new home or remodeling. It reduces energy costs and provides comfort. It also helps prevent moisture problems and pest infestations.
There are many types of insulation. These include fiberglass batts, cellulose, spray foam and more. The type you choose depends on your climate zone, budget and other factors.
Fiberglass is one of the most popular forms of insulation for a wide range of residential and commercial building projects. It’s affordable, mold-resistant and offers a high R-value, which means it limits the transfer of heat in and out of a structure to help lower energy bills. It also helps muffle sound and create a more comfortable indoor environment.
This type of insulation is available in a variety of forms including rolls, batts, and loose-fill. It’s easy to work with and requires no special equipment for installation, making it a convenient choice for DIYers and professional installers alike. However, it’s important to note that fiberglass is not waterproof and can degrade with moisture exposure. In addition, the small particles it contains can irritate the skin, so it’s important to wear proper safety gear when working with it.
During the manufacturing process, sand and recycled glass (from glass bottles and other sources) are combined to form fiberglass. This makes it a sustainable option for homeowners, builders and contractors looking to reduce their environmental impact. The material is then formed into sheets and bonded with chemicals to ensure quality. It’s often used for thermal and acoustic applications and can be installed in walls, floors and attics. It’s also often incorporated into ducts and tank-style water heaters to boost energy efficiency.
The biggest advantage of fiberglass is that it is inexpensive and easy to install. It comes in several different sizes to fit standard stud and joist spacing, which means it’s ideal for a wide range of construction projects. It can also be installed in existing homes and buildings as part of a re-insulation project.
It’s important to hire a professional for the installation of fiberglass insulation to prevent air leakage and ensure a proper fit. It’s also vital to ensure proper ventilation during the installation process to disperse any airborne fiberglass particles. Lastly, it’s important to make sure the contractor you choose has extensive experience with this type of insulation.
Cellulose
Cellulose insulation is a sustainable alternative to fiberglass, made from recycled newspaper and cardboard. Typically, it contains 75 to 85% recycled paper fiber and is treated with nonhazardous borate compounds that work as flame retardants, repel pests and resist mold. It has the highest recycled content of any insulation material and helps reduce the mountains of discarded paper and cardboard that would otherwise end up in landfills.
It can be installed in new construction or retrofitted into existing homes as either dry-blown or wet-sprayed. In its wet form, a small amount of water is added to the cellulose fiber at the spray nozzle. This moisture activates natural starches within the cellulose, causing it to stick permanently to framing materials and drywall. It can also be blown dry behind netting stapled over wall cavities or damp-sprayed in open walls, using a retainer such as a tin can to hold the cellulose in place until it has dried.
When blown in, cellulose insulation can reach tight spaces and hard-to-reach spots such as gaps around electrical wires. It also has the added benefit of reducing noise transmission in a home. If improperly installed, cellulose can settle after installation, but Hamilton’s Skedaddle uses tested densities to ensure that it is installed correctly.
Because cellulose insulation is so tightly packed, it has greater R-value per inch than other common insulation products, including fiberglass. It can also help to lower energy bills and increase a home’s comfort.
Cellulose insulation can be very effective in insulating older homes, as it fills difficult-to-reach areas that traditional fiberglass cannot. It is particularly useful in insulating attics where it can reduce air leakage and prevent vapor diffusion, which causes the most costly energy loss.
While cellulose is very effective in insulating old houses, it may not be suitable for newer buildings with tighter building envelopes. In this case, the building envelope should be sealed well before cellulose insulation is installed.
One drawback to cellulose is that it is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb up to 130 percent of its weight in water. This can cause problems, since undetected water leaks can compress the blanket of cellulose and create a void space that degrades its R-value. If left unchecked, this can lead to rot and mold problems. Cellulose is also prone to damage from rodents such as squirrels, raccoons and mice, which can chew through it, especially in attics where they often live.
Polyurethane
Suspended ceilings are a popular solution for concealing electrical wiring, air conditioning ducts and other utilities in commercial spaces and some modern homes. Incorporating a layer of polyurethane insulation above a suspended ceiling adds another element to this elegant design, insulating the space and providing greater comfort while lowering energy costs.
Rigid foam polyurethane is a versatile insulation material that comes in a variety of hardnesses to meet specific requirements for different applications. This type of insulation is available in spray and rigid board form, allowing it to be easily applied to attics, walls and other areas. Its elasticity and resilience also make it an ideal option for applications that require shock absorption.
Polyurethane insulation is a highly effective thermal insulator that can significantly lower energy bills. It is available in a range of hardnesses and densities, and can be customized to fit the unique needs of the application by varying the amount of isocyanate, polyol and additives. This flexible material is also very lightweight, making it easy to transport and install.
Its excellent chemical resistance also makes it an ideal choice for coatings. This type of material is often used as a protective coating on flooring, car bodies and other materials that are prone to damage by moisture, mildew, salt corrosion or oil stains. It can even be molded and cast to produce custom shapes and sizes, which adds to its versatility.
The process by which polyurethane insulation is made involves reacting natural monomers to create a long chain of organic units that can be formed into a range of materials with different physical properties. In general, the longer the chain of monomers, the more durable and resilient the finished product. The resulting polymer can also be shaped and cut, or sprayed onto surfaces to create an adhesive or filler.
Because of its versatility, polyurethane insulation is a popular choice for retrofitting older structures with energy efficiency in mind. Its spray application allows it to be seamlessly injected into walls, roofs and floors, sealing gaps and crevices while preserving the architectural integrity of the building. In addition, its fire safety and water resistant properties help protect against moisture and mold damage. Polyurethane insulation is combustible, so proper fire safety precautions should be taken when installing and using it. Additionally, it emits some vapors during the curing process, so appropriate ventilation is essential.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene insulation (EPS and XPS) is an effective thermal insulator. Its closed-cell structure traps air, minimizing heat transfer and cutting energy bills. The material is also lightweight and easy to install. Its versatility and cost-effectiveness make it an excellent choice for residential and commercial applications.
EPS is made from expanding spherical beads that are fused together using heat and pressure. It is then molded into large blocks and cut into alternative sheets with hot wire cutters. Its water resistance is moderate and it can be prone to mold or mildew growth, so it must be protected from moisture infiltration. It is also not a good choice for outdoor applications where it will be subjected to high humidity levels.
The most common type of polystyrene is expanded polystyrene. It is manufactured in a process similar to extruded polystyrene. Plastic resin, other ingredients, and a blowing agent are melted together in a continuous extrusion system that produces a homogeneous closed cell cross section. Expanded polystyrene is used in a variety of applications, including packaging and cushioning. It is a clear thermoplastic with a low melting point and high tensile strength. It has a low moisture absorption rate, good electrical insulation properties, and is odorless and tasteless.
Another popular form of PS is styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), a flexible and tough copolymer that is combined with other materials to produce a variety of products. Examples include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is found in many electronic cases, and styrene-methylmethacrylate (SMMA), which is used for a variety of medical applications.
Both EPS and XPS are inert, non-toxic materials that do not leak harmful chemicals into the groundwater. They are also recyclable, which helps homeowners and builders earn LEED points in new construction projects. Unlike other insulation materials that can deteriorate over time, EPS and XPS are stable, and they do not support the growth of mold or mildew. They are also resistant to chemical penetration and can withstand extreme freeze-thaw cycling. However, they cannot withstand exposure to sunlight or elevated temperatures that will cause them to melt. In addition, EPS is not compatible with certain adhesives and may draw plasticizers from thermoplastic membranes.