Insulating your home is an important part of staying comfortable year-round. Contrary to popular belief, insulation isn’t just for staying warm — in fact, it’s just as important when it comes to keeping you cool in hot weather!
The goal of insulation is to keep air from getting into your home from outside. The less air transfer there is, the better your home will retain the heat and cooling that you’re paying for.
Fiberglass blanket insulation is one of the types that can help your home stay cool — or warm — as required. If you’re building your home from scratch or renovating, you owe it to yourself to learn more about this type of insulation.
Here’s what you need to know about how to keep your home insulated no matter what the weather is.
What is Blanket Insulation?
As you’re looking at insulation types, you’ll come across several options. Depending on when your home was built or when it was last renovated, you may have several or all of these types.
Blown-in insulation is a common type that is easy to use in hard-to-reach areas. Usually made from fiberglass or cellulose, it’s often used in attics, walls, and awkward areas. The installers try to give the right depth for the r-value you’re looking for, but settling can affect how well it works.
Spray foam is an expensive form of insulation that provides a good r-value and can be used in a variety of spaces. The foam is sprayed into the open area and can be trimmed once it dries. This can be a great option but it’s quite pricy.
Blanket insulation gives you a happy medium between the first two. You get a fiberglass that insulates well and doesn’t settle. The rolls and batts are available in a variety of thicknesses and include a vapor barrier on one side. Blanket insulation is perfect in walls, floors, and ceilings.
As you can see, blanket insulation gives you better quality than blown-in options at a lower cost than spray foam. It’s a great medium for a high-quality but affordable project.
Where Can You Use Blanket Insulation?
Blanket insulation can be used all over your home or building project. There are options that make a great basement insulation blanket, and others that are perfect as a concrete insulation blanket.
You can use this type of material to insulate everything from a regular home to outdoor buildings. Blanket insulation for metal buildings can help them be much more comfortable and help protect your belongings in storage. Any time you’re opening the walls or ceiling in a building, fiberglass blanket insulation is a great choice.
Fiberglass isn’t the only choice for blanket insulation. In fact, you can find it in a variety of safer materials that aren’t irritants.
If you’re interested in a greener home that’s still comfortable, consider cotton or sheep’s wool blanket insulation. You can read on here about other innovations in blanket insulation, including reusable products.
There are a lot of benefits to having a properly insulated home or building!
The Benefits of Great Insulation
Why should you worry about the quality of insulation in your home? Choosing the right insulation makes a big difference in how comfortable your home and rooms are. It also makes a significant impact in other ways.
Insulation can reduce your overall energy costs by keeping warm and cool air where you want it. Without air leakage, your HVAC doesn’t have to run as frequently. If you’ve been overlooking your insulation, this alone could convince you to reconsider!
As a result of cost savings, insulation has a great return on investment. In fact, insulating may be one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the comfort of your home. When you choose blanket insulation, you’re making an affordable improvement in your home that will pay for itself many times over.
Finally, a well-insulated home helps you avoid annoying noise transfer. While blanket insulation may not keep you from hearing your son’s drumset, it will help TV noise and other sound transfer less efficiently.
That means that your home will be quieter, more comfortable, and will save you money. That’s a win/win/win!
How to Install Insulation Blankets
The first thing to remember with any type of installation is safety. No matter what kind of insulation you’re using, it’s important to use the right safety equipment. You’ll need goggles, gloves, and a respirator.
Next, be sure you have all the tools you need on hand. That includes cutters, measuring tools, and more. When you choose your insulation, make sure it has the r-value you’re looking for and that you know how thickly it should be installed.
If moisture is a concern, make sure there is a vapor barrier and that it’s facing the correct direction. Fill the cavity fully, and make sure you’re working in accordance with building codes.
Many homeowners find it’s more efficient to have a professional install insulation, so that’s an option as well.
Take Advantage of Fiberglass Blanket Insulation
Fiberglass blanket insulation can make a huge difference in your home. If you’re building a home or working on a renovation project, it deserves your consideration.
If you’re working on finishing the basement, or perhaps waterproofing, why not improve the insulation? If you’re working in the attic, lay down some new insulation blankets. If you’re working on a bedroom, put some better insulation in the walls.
Blanket insulation is easy to work with, affordable, and helps you save money. It’s a great option for any homeowner!
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