If you’re wondering,” How do I keep my house an ideal temperature all the time?” It’s best to start with insulating the walls. About 30% of all the heat you lose leaves through walls, especially when they have a direct thermal relationship with the exterior.
Creating a barrier between you and the outside requires a blanket, hence, insulation. Unlike blankets, whose sole purpose is to maintain your warmth, they can also keep you cool on hot days.
Let’s explore some of the wall insulation https://insulationwholesale.co.uk/insulation/insulation-applications/wall-insulation variants you may encounter when purchasing:
- Inside Walls
Interior partitioning walls can be insulated for enough temperature regulation so as to not need exterior application to the building. How?
- By fixing a wooden or metallic frame on it and filling the gap with your desired material. The job is finished by walling off the insulation and beautifying the wall to make it match the rest of the house.
- Use pre-made plasterboards that can be put on top of your walls.
Both scenarios require tearing down plaster to allow mounting the boards into the walls directly.
This way, you get to keep your original outside appearance and spend less money than you would insulating all the walls.
One thing to keep in mind is that your overall square footage will reduce as the walls will have to come a few inches inward. Plasterboards are less impactful in this manner as they take less space than frame-based insulation.
- External wall insulation
External walls can have insulative material attached to them and be covered by rendering, cladding, tiles, panels, or even brick-effect slips.
It is convenient because it produces fewer disruptions during installation. It also however, has disadvantages, such as potentially costing more and requiring planning permission. You can look forward to potentially lower heating/cooling bills, less internal disruption, as well as soundproofing.
- Cavity wall insulation
Houses built today tend to have insulative materials used for the walls right off the bat to prevent additional work later and give them home a cleaner look. However, it can always be done after the fact, provided there is easy access to the cavity, and they are deemed ready to take on insulation by an expert.
Cavity wall insulation offers several benefits, including its discreet installation and its affordability.
How does wall insulation work?
Wall insulation works by:
Reducing heat cycling (how much heat seeps in and out of your house). It creates a kind of a thermos around you.
Creating a barrier to the flow of heat or sound through walls, ceilings, or floors.
Using reflective surfaces in contact with an air space to reduce radiant heat gain.
Enjoy The Benefits of Fortifying Your Walls
Energy Efficiency
One significant advantage is reduced heat cycling. It goes without saying that if you don’t have to constantly adjust your temperature, you will draw less power from the grid and save money in the long run.
You can get rid of cold bridges and drafts, so the home will always feel warm and cosy.
Noise Reduction
Cut down on nouse from outside by insulating yourself, making life more tranquil and serene. When applied to the inside walls, insulation can greatly lessen noise transmission between a house’s rooms, creating a quiet and private interior environment.
Increased Home Value
Green homes are becoming popular today. When you sell your home, having top-notch insulation could raise its market value.
Condensation Control
Uninsulated homes sometimes suffer from excessive condensation and moisture, which can lead to toxic growths such as mould. Wall insulation, if done properly, can be an important tool in helping control condensation and ensuring you have clean air to breathe and are not exposed to potentially toxic growths that thrive in the presence of moisture.
Fire Resistance And Protection
Rockwool wall insulation has excellent fire ratings, slows the spread of flames, and doesn’t emit harmful smoke when burning.
The Installation Process
Some aspects of this process could be DIYed but professional installation often ensures optimal results.
Factors to consider include the insulative material and its application, wall construction, and technical experience.
Here’s a simple four-step breakdown of the installation process:
Oversight
Analyze the site to ensure there aren’t any air gaps, power lines, or outlets in the way. For this job, specialized caulk is applied around sensitive areas to prevent spray foam overflow into areas we don’t want it.
Dimensions
Take accurate measurements to avoid leaving voids in the material. The best way to install insulative material is to ensure that it is a tight fit. Voids tend to create thermal bridges from one side of the wall to the other.
Material selection
Match your needs and circumstances to the right insulative material. For instance, fiberglass is cost-effective and not an irritant. At the same time, cellulose works best for uses that account for fire safety as a major concern.
Put in place
You can then install the insulation materials, filling any gaps with spray foam.
FAQs
- What is the best insulation for walls?
The answer depends on various factors, but the US Department of Energy recommends foam board or rigid foam as one of the best and most effective variants. It can be used anywhere in the home, including the foundation, sheathing, and the roof.
- Could I add insulation to pre-built walls?
Yes. Existing walls can take insulation in various methods. It could cost more than if you have insulation put in during construction instead of after the fact.
- How thick should my wall insulation be?
Most variants are about 60mm to 100mm thick. The thickness you chose for your project depends on the insulation and usefulness of its thermal properties.
- What should I use; faced or unfaced insulation?
For people in places with with high humidity or exposed to moisture, faced insulation is recommended, while unfaced insulation performs best in dry locations and interior walls.
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