The temperature has started to drop quickly and the people drinking coffee on their way to offices can be seen. The leaves in MS are also losing their colour. Before you think of pulling out your snow boots or jackets, or try to find the nicest hot chocolate recipe, have you asked yourself, whether your house is ready for winter or not?
The first thing that you should make sure of is the insulation of your home; whether it is ready for the winter or not. According to the research done by the NAIMA institute, around 90 percent of the homes are under-insulated. Even in the insulation of your homes, windows, doors, roofs and even siding all play an important role. This is why you need to take care of each aspect before the winter comes.
Selecting the Right Insulation
Homeowners have a lot of different options when it comes to choosing the best insulation for a house and each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Blanket Insulation
This is one of the most common types of insulations available in the market and it is also quite inexpensive and can be bought from any nearby hardware store. It can be cut to fit which makes it the most favourite option for do it yourself. The blanket insulation comes in batts or rolls that are pre-measured to work with standard stud and joist spacing.
Loose Insulation
Loose-fill insulation is made up of small particles of fibre, foam or any other material. The most commonly used materials include fibreglass, Rockwool, and cellulose. They have a small size, loose structure, and can fit into existing finished spaces or areas that are hard to reach.
Foam Boards
They are rigid panels of insulation that can be used to insulate almost any part of your home from the roof to the down of the home structure. They are quite effective in exterior wall sheathing, interior sheathing for basement walls and special applications such as attic hatches.
Spray Foam
It is one of the best insulation material for the house and only one kind of insulation can create an air-tight seal in your floors, walls, and ceilings and that is spray foam. Spray foam is made with polyurethane and it comes in two types, the less expensive open cell which has a sponge-like texture and the denser closed-cell foam which expands to fill the spaces around it.
What is the best insulation for a house? Two factors to consider
The amount and type of insulation you need for your home varied depending on several factors.
Where you Live
Different insulations are required for different climatic regions and the value of insulation’s ability to resist heat flow is all that matters. The higher this value would be, the better and greater the insulating power will be. So, if you live in a colder climatic region, you will be required a better insulating material that can resist the heat.
Your Home’s age
If the age of your home is more than 10 years, then you would be required more insulation, including the loose-fill, batts, spray foam, and foam board. However, if you already have insulation material, but now you want to change it, you first have to remove the older one.
Whole-home insulation
There are different ways through which energy can escape your home and can cause your home cold in the winter season. A few of the following spots in the home must be considered well during insulation.
Roof
If the attic is not properly insulated, the heat will rise and it will heat the roof. According to research, a properly insulated attic can save you 10 to 50 per cent of the heating bill.
Windows and Doors
Check the windows and doors for leaks and caulk where needed. You can use non-expanding foam sealant spray, fibreglass strips or caulks to ensure a good seal. However, if the windows and doors are in pretty poor condition, then replace them.
If you have home improvement or roofing questions in Brandon, Madison, Ridgeland, or Jackson, MS call Watkins Construction & Roofing today at 601-966-8233