Heat rises and escapes through attics that aren’t properly insulated. 25% to be clear.
35% leaves through the walls.
25% through windows and doors.
15% leaves through the floor.
Altogether it sounds like a balanced escape, but take into consideration that a massive 60% of all heat leaving has to do with poor insulation.
It’s no mystery why so many homeowners know that good insulation is worth it. Although, there are a few frequently asked insulation questions to cover here.
1. What is an R-value?
R Value = Temperature difference x Area x Time / Heat Loss
What any good insulation material does is minimize the amount of heat flowing in or out of the home, leaving the homeowner with the ability to decide how hot, how cold their space is. However, R value (while important) is only one of four factors that decide the quality of an insulating material, and should not be the end all be all for any decision.
In Los Angeles, the recommended R-value sits at a petty 2, which allows for a wide variety of choice in how homeowners want to insulate their homes.
2. How Much Money Does Good Insulation Save?
This frequently asked question is not one size fits all, and should be determined by a professional insulation installer in Los Angeles.
A safe consensus sits around a 20% - 40% saving grace. A typical return on investment is 5 - 6 years.
3. Is Batt or Loose Fill a Better Choice?
Loose fill: shredded insulation material sold in bags. Meant to be packed with netting or adhesive into the walls or floor,
Batt: typically what homeowners think about in terms of insulation. This material is sold in rolls.
Because it comes out in a roll, batt can be difficult to work with depending on the space. Piping, wiring, and all other forms of obstruction make it impossible to lay batt down correctly, without any gaps or drafts in between the sheets,
Loose Fill conforms to any space it’s set in and perfectly blots out any gap. It packs in better than batts ever will. If a homeowner does a bit of research online, they’ll find that the R-value is lower for loose fill than it is for batt. Don’t worry. R-value is only one of four criteria in judging an insulation materials. As far as they go, loose fill is an excellent choice.
4. Out of Loose Fill, Which is The Best Material
Cellulose.
There’s been a lot of talk about denim overtaking the crown for loose fill, but professional opinion stands that cellulose is still the absolute best. It’s -
- Cost effective
- Green: recyclable, easy to manufacture, reusable
- Has a powerful R-value
It should be known that while cellulose lasts for decade, its fire retardant component only lasts for a few years, and while it’s not a fire hazard, it should be known that the initial promise of extra protection is not necessarily a long-lasting feature.
5. Which Is Better for the Environment?
Again, some have been saying that denim is the most environmentally conscious way to go about insulating a home, and although there is a lot to be said about the quality of denim, cellulous again has it beat.
Cellulose is made of shredded paper newspaper reused to create a completely different product. It requires no de-inking, to be reused as paper, no bleach, and is overall very sustainable.
Where to Go?
Novel Remodeling is a contractor with over 25 years in home remodeling. With any project, the lifetime and quality is determined by the installation. If you’re looking for an insulation installer in Los Angeles, contact us.
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