Attic Insulation
Any discussion about proper Attic Insulation Houston has to start with a company understanding of R Value, the measurement used by builders to determine the thermal resistance of a material. R Value is the ability of a material to resist the thermal transfer of heat from its external environment. A material's R Value is typically affected by the following four considerations: the amount of radiation it can handle, the density of the material and its porosity. The density of the material refers to the arrangement of its crystalline forms, the higher the material's R-value, the better its conductivity and the more effectively it insulates against heat transfer. The porosity of a material refers to its insulating ability to maintain its structural integrity even under high temperatures.
When considering an attic insulation type, such as fiberglass batt insulation, it is important to take note of R-values first. Fiberglass attics tend to have higher R-values than most other types of insulators. One reason for this is that fiberglass attics are made up almost entirely of air. Since the majority of an attic's structure is composed of air, it is a good choice if you're looking for an energy efficient way to lower your monthly energy bills.
Another material that has lower R-values than fiberglass but is a good choice for attic insulation is cellulose. Cellulose is made up of tiny little rocks or pieces of recycled Styrofoam. This type of material can insulate effectively, however since cellulose is very fine it is difficult to spray foam on it. Spray foam is more commonly used in other types of attics such as wood and rolled board, both of which have higher R-values.
For many older homes, there is no good option for proper attic insulation. Not only does the attic contain flammable gas or oil that must be vented outside, but the gases can escape into the home itself. Luckily, there are alternatives to traditional fiberglass and cellulose attic insulation, such as insulation that is made from plastic and other similar products that are also extremely effective at keeping out the heat and cold.
Most of these types of insulations are relatively inexpensive. They are easily installed, as well as being easy to maintain. One downside to these types of insulating materials is that they are generally not very good at stopping heat or at blocking heat from going out of a house. That is not to say that they are ineffective; quite the contrary. The problem is that in many older homes, the heat coming from windows is escaping through the attic insulation.
The best option for proper attic insulation in an older home is probably to use one of these types of products that are made of a synthetic material. These include batts and rolls. The most common of these is made from wool, but there are other synthetic fiber products available as well. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that wool can deteriorate if it is not treated and the wool itself can get quite expensive.
When choosing one of these different types of products for an older home, there are some things that will affect the choice. For instance, a home in a hot, dry climate will need to use a different type of insulation than one in a more temperate location. Another factor is the thermal quality of the different types of material. A particularly cold location will require that any attic insulation is thicker than one used in a hot area. The thermal quality is especially important, since insulation will reduce the amount of heat that escapes through a home's roof and wall cavities. In addition to thermal quality, there are also the mechanical quality of the product, as well as its ability to resist both physical and chemical damage.
There are many benefits to using insulation in attics, both for preventing heat loss and for fighting off mold and mildew. Properly insulating a home is an easy and inexpensive way to fight off those common but potentially harmful bugs and other health threats. There is little doubt that spending a little extra time and effort to properly insulate a home will be worth it for those who are concerned about both their health and the value of their investment.