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One way you can make sure that your house stays warm in the winter months and that you save some money on energy, is by insulating your attic. This will reduce the heat transfer and keep the warm air in your home.
Products
Every insulating materials has its own R-value. The R-value is actually the thermal resistance. The higher the value the higher the thermal transfer. Check the R-values of every insulating materials that you can find and compare the benefits.
Loose insulation
This type of insulation is similar to the blanket insulation only that it’s in loose form. It can be installed using a blowing machine. If can cover any area and it will harden to form a solid insulating barrier. It won’t set hard enough to walk on it, so you should consider installing some plywood sheets.
Spray foam
This is a newer method for insulating your home. The problem is that it needs to be done by professionals. The roof is insulated by spraying the foam onto the underside of the roof and not into the joists. The R-value is of 6.5 per inch, while fiberglass has a 3value per inch. It may not be cost effective to insulate your house with spray foam if the area is large.
Reflective insulation
There are many advantages with this rigid/reflective insulation. It can be installed on the floor and you can walk on it. It is easy to install on roof tops. It is also very efficient in terms of heat transfer. You can also use foil reflection barriers that will keep your house cold in the summer. One of the main drawbacks is that small spaces are harder to cover.
Wool
This is one of the environmental friendly alternative to house insulation. It is a natural grown product and it can be very effective. It is usually made from sheep wool.
More and more, recycled fibers are being used for insulation. Also recycled plastic bottles are great as insulation.
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