Our Insulation thoughts; what is the best financial investment to achieve the end goal of good insulation, good indoor air quality and sound control?
After you’ve completed sealing the thermal envelope, what goes behind the drywall is a big decision. Let’s start with basics.
INSULATION / R-VALUE
R-Value is a measurement of thermal efficiency or measurement to the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-Value numbers the greater resistance the insulation has to the movement of heat.
A large percentage of heat escapes through the attic and walls of a home. In order to build a better thermal envelope, we accept that heat flows in one direction, from warm space to cold. Example, warm inside air will flow to the outside during winter months. The most common insulation method is fiberglass insulation batts, which are placed between the studs and stapled into place. The drywall is then nailed over, creating a wall. Although this is an acceptable method, it can be done better. The fundamental problem with the batt is you need to ensure there aren’t any gaps and you can’t because those insulating products are manufactured true and square. In a real-world environment, cavities between the studs are irregular and additional trades cause other obstructions like plumbing stacks or HVAC trunk lines. You also have to work around supplementary roof and wall penetrations associated with utility and/or local communication companies that create hard-to-reach places creating pathways for conditioned air to leak in or out, sacrificing comfort.
Why Spray?
Because this delivers a continuous thermal and air barrier that seals around plumbing, vents and electrical openings as well as other cracks and voids that allow unwanted air leakage. Leaving no gaps or seams, it minimizes airborne irritants such as allergens, drafts, or humidity.
The following are spray-in custom insulation materials that provide superior performance in relationship to the above acceptable building method.
Icynene insulation delivers advanced moisture management by forming an air seal to minimize air movement. By minimizing air transported moisture through the building envelope, Icynene helps to prevent condensation and reduces the potential for mold growth within walls and ceilings. Icynene products feature 100% water-blown technology. Using Icynene insulation in place of an air-permeable option can dramatically reduce a building’s carbon footprint by as much as 50% since less energy is required to heat and cool the building.
http://www.icynene.com/
Johns Manville Spider® custom fiber glass insulation is available in variable thickness levels. It can fill 2x4 cavities up to an R-15 thermal rating, 2x6 cavities up to R-23, JM Spider® insulation also reduces sound transmission, achieving a Sound Transmission Class of 43 in a standard 2x4 wood-framed wall. JM Spider® insulation resists mold because it sprays in almost dry (less moisture content than wood framing), and is treated with a U.S. EPA-registered mold inhibitor to protect the insulation against mold. JM Spider® insulation can be used for both wall and ceiling applications. In addition, only fiber glass insulation made without formaldehyde—such as JM Spider® Custom Insulation—can pass Environmental Specification 1350, the toughest indoor air quality test in North America, with a non-detect for formaldehyde.
http://www.specjm.com/products/sprayin2/spider.asp
If you have additional questions on insulation, please contact us @ info(at)cdbmd.com
Cheers!!
