What Are the Different Types of Insulation Materials That Exist Today?

Let’s look outside for a minute and think about the weather: specifically whether we find it hot or cold.

Puns aside, we could all use a little insulation, when we find it hot or cold. But we must proceed with caution, as the market saturates itself with various, unequal insulation materials every day.

So let’s grab either our slippers or our fans to learn all about insulation!

What Do We Insulate With?

We might want to insulate something new or something old (i.e. new or old walls). This helps us choose the best insulation for our homes. Insulation keeps us warm inside when the weather freezes outside, while it also keeps us cool inside when the weather warms outside.

Thus, insulation types matter.

We can choose from the following:

• Blanket batts and rolls (we may also use a chilled water blanket)
• Spray foam
• Blown-in
• Foam boards/panels
• Reflective/radiant barriers

Keep reading to learn more about these types of insulation!

Blanket Batts and Rolls

Unfortunately, we can only use these blankets for insulation, rather than our beds.

Blanket batts and rolls come in various materials that serve various purposes. We may find them made from fiberglass, mineral wool, and different fibers like plastic.

They allow anyone to install, remaining DIY-friendly.

Apply these babies to unfinished walls, floors, and ceilings.

Spray Foam

Spray foam mainly comes from lesser-known, more complex materials, yet we might recognize one material called polyurethane.

This installation method requires one to spray in place under pressure. We find this useful for any irregularities or pre-existing places like incomplete attic floors.

It helps fill in any insulation gaps.

Blown-In

This insulation type also comes from mineral wool and fiberglass, as well as cellulose.

It requires specialized equipment to install, yet one can pour it in, too (albeit riskier). We use this insulation type for anywhere hard-to-reach or oddly-shaped, like unfinished attic floors.

It helps when we have anything obstructing our path when normally insulating.

Foam Boards/Panels

These guys all come from materials starting with P: polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, and phenolic. They require extra materials like gypsum boards to install.

We use them on unfinished floors, ceilings, walls, and sometimes roofs. They also insulate quite well for lying on the thinner side.

Reflective/Radiant Barriers

This insulation method’s materials include foil-faced kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, and even cardboard at times! Unsurprisingly, they also prove very DIY-friendly.

Find this method helping us out on those incomplete walls, ceilings, and floors. It also works great at keeping heat from flowing downward.

Insulation Materials in a Nutshell

Overall, insulation materials vary significantly. They all require different installation methods, originate from different materials, and insulate different structures.

Hence, we need to know what functions best in our home to optimize our comfort, while we save energy. Like this article? Then, check out our website for more fun, informative pieces!