You would never consider going outside in the dead of winter in just a simple light-weight jacket. Instead, you pile on the layers to keep warm: coat, scarf, hat, gloves, several shirts, and boots. The same theory holds true for your home. If you want to keep your Louisville heating and cooling costs down, your home needs the proper protection against the elements.
Choosing the right insulation affects many aspects of your home including curb appeal, resale value, and the quality of the master bathroom shower. Most importantly, the proper insulation affects long-term efficiency and energy costs. If your home is not properly insulated, heat will escape and gravitate to colder areas like the basement and the attic. If you have cracks or leaks in any of these areas, the heat will find them and make a quick exit, leaving your home shivering cold.
If your home is struggle to keep warm, it may be time to check into re-insulating, especially in the attic area, which is the most heavily insulated area in your home. Insulation is measured in terms of resistance to heat flow, or an “R” value. Attics generally require an R35-45 rating for proper protection.
In the past, fiberglass insulated rolls were the only way to insulate. Today, there are many options including spray foam, foil-faced reflective paper, polyethylene bubbles and straw core panels. New construction is now made with concrete forms in which the insulation is built right in to the home’s structure. But if you aren’t building a new home, the best form of insulation for remodeling is the spray foam method. This version provides the maximum energy efficiency.
When selecting the insulation that’s right for your home, evaluate the appropriate R-value for your home’s needs. A home in Montana has different needs than a home in Florida. Take into consideration:
- The age of your home
- The structure make up of your home
- The location of your home
Although the needs are different, the goals of insulating are the same: to effectively resist the flow of hot and cold air. Protect your home against old man winter this season by bundling up with an extra layer of warmth.