You don’t have to live in Northern New England to love the feel and ambiance of a fireplace. This being said, a wood fireplace or stove is not always the best option for your home. If you are renting or do not want to install a fireplace in your home, you might find electric fireplaces to be great options for you and your family. They are beautiful and keep the room warm with no mess and no materials to purchase. These cheap electric fireplaces are fairly inexpensive, come in an amazing array of styles and will fit read more…
Basement Wall Insulation & Spray Foam Insultation on Basement Walls
Insulation Types, Materials & R Values for Basements, Crawl Spaces & Attics
Insulation can be installed
before or after finishing a basement.
before or after finishing a basement.
Before insulating your basement, crawl space, attic or any other interior wall, you should have a basic understanding of the different types of insulation solutions available. Emily Patterson from Ehow contributed the following great piece:
Insulation and air sealing in the basement reduces energy use and lowers heating and cooling costs. Insulation's R-value is the resistance to heat flow through the insulation. Higher R-values indicate a higher resistance to heat flow (and thus higher energy savings). According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulating the basement of a home can save $250 to $390 a year, depending on the location and R-value of the insulation used.
Blanket Insulation
Blanket insulation, also called batt and roll insulation, is the most common insulation used in basements. The product can be made with fiberglass, natural fibers, mineral wool or plastic fibers. The rolls are protected with a variety of coverings. Some products have a heavy paper covering on only one side, some are available with a paper cover on both sides. Plastic, foil and fire-rated products are also available---local building codes may require the use of certain types of insulation for basement installation.
Foam Board Insulation
Foam board insulation is a newer product on the market. The foam boards are made from polyisocyanurate, polystyrene or polyurethane. The foam board is installed between studs or can be glued into position and the seams taped before the installation of studs or wall finishes. It is important to maintain moisture control with foam board insulation, as pores in the foam can absorb water and allow mold growth. Local ordinances often require a fire barrier between flammable foam board insulation and the interior of the house. Check your local building codes to find out the requirements for your town if you use foam board for basement insulation.
Loose Fill Insulation
Loose fill insulation is blown into cavities and is a good choice for basements that are already finished. The fill is made from fiberglass, rock wool or cellulose. Fiberglass is suitable for most finished basement applications. However, rock wool and cellulose should not be considered for areas where the studs are located 24 inches apart. Over time, loose fill insulation can settle, reducing the insulation's R-value. Additional insulation can be added to fill voids when settling has occurred.
Sprayed Foam Insulation
Sprayed foam insulation is installed using a foaming agent combined with liquid foam insulation. This type of insulation requires certification to install properly. However, the R-value of spray foam insulation is often much higher than the more commonly used and less expensive blanket insulation. Special equipment is also required for proper installation. In most locations, building codes require another barrier, such as drywall, to cover all sprayed foam insulation. A vapor barrier may also be required. Check with your local building codes for all statutes regarding sprayed foam insulation in basements.
Considerations
Air sealing is just as important as insulation for finished basements. Air movement in and out of the house around pipes, vents and electrical lines exchange air from outside to the inside, raising heating bills and reducing the savings of installing insulation. Use expanding foam spray to seal the space between all breaks in the walls between inside and outside the basement for a properly insulated and air-sealed basement. Insulate cold water pipes to reduce moisture caused by the pipes sweating in a properly insulated basement.
Warnings
Control water issues such as leaks and seepage before installing insulation in the basement. Prevent future problems or correct existing problems by having the soil graded properly away from the house. The slope for effective drainage is at least 1 inch per 8 feet; increase the grade as much as possible. Keep gutters and down spouts clean so water can drain freely from the gutter system. Downspouts should direct rainwater at least 8 feet from the foundation.
What is R value?
R value insulation ratings are used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. House Insulation should be purchased based on its R value, not thickness or weight.
Facts About R value
Some quick facts about R value are:
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One type of insulation maybe thicker or thinner, but if the R value is the same they should insulate equally.
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R value performance testing is done in a 70 F environment with no air movement. Ironically enough, when you need insulation the most you're generally not in these ideal temperatures or conditions. This can result in the rated house insulation R value being higher than the actual effective R value.
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The average recommended R value of insulating material for basement insulation in North America is R-12.
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The R value in house insulation is substantially lowered when there's any air or water/moisture leaks.
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The standard R value for house insulation varies based on climate and temperature
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1 inch of insulation is = to 30 inches of concrete.
There are different types of house insulation materials, each having a different R value.
Some of the best insulation materials are:
-
House Insulation R value of Blown in Cellulose Insulation is 3.70 per inch
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House Insulation R value of Fiberglass Insulation is 3.14 per inch
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House Insulation R value of Expanded Polystyrene is 4.00 per inch
Table of R Value
Some quick facts about R value are:
 R value for house insulation standards |  table of r value for house |
|---|
The house insulation r value of insulating boards are:
| Expanded polystyrene | 4.00 per inch |
| Extruded polystyrene | 5.00 per inch |
| Polyisocyanurate & Polyurethane |
6-7 per inch |
In most regions of North America an R Value of 11 is sufficient in a basement. If it is a Crawl Space you will want an R Value of 19, and for attics you will want much higher, around 50. The house insulation r value of insulating boards are:
| Type | R/Inch |
| Blown Pink or Yellow Fiberglass | 2.2 |
| Blown White Fiberglass (certainteed Insulsafe) |
2.8 |
| Blown Rockwool | 2.8 |
| Blown Cellulose | 3.7 |
| Batt Fiberglass | 3.1 |
| Batt Rockwool | 3.2 |
| Polystyrene (extruded) | 5.0 |
| Polystyrene (molded) | 4.0 |
| Polyurethane (unfaced) | 6.0 |
| Polyisocyanurate (unfaced) | 6.0 |
| Polyurethane (skin faced) | 7.1 |
| Polyisocyanurate (skin faced) | 7.1 |
| Loose Fill Vermiculite | 2.4 |
| Loose Fill Perlite | 2.8 |
Adding insulation for your basement minimizes heat loss and will help the whole structure keep its heat?spending less when it comes to overall energy costs. Before installing insulation consider following your checklist on how to effectively insulate your basement. The first item you should examine should be the basement’s humidity. Talk to your contractor or professional, examine the spot around your home’s foundation and examine the basement walls for cracks and mold before they set up any insulation. Another important tip is to weatherize the windows in your basement. Insulating your basement windows reduces the temperature of your window read more…
Our home is approximately a hundred years old, it’s an awesome airy home but it absolutely shows its age. We recently renovated our basement and we experienced 3 contractors. It’s not easy being a contractor’s client, as we know all too well. The first one came in, offered us the moon and also the stars, each day he came in no less than 2 hours late and quite often he wouldn’t even show up. The 2nd one presented us an awesome quote and after that he attempted to overcharge us. And the third one; while he completed his job, read more…
Insulating your house is a vital task in northern places, and selecting the proper form of insulating material that suits all of your requirements can sometimes be tough. In the past most homes were insulated with Asbestos; the use of Asbestos has been banned in most developed countries globally because of the side effects. Lots of things are produced using asbestos, due to its many physical and chemical components. Asbestos is a group of six naturally sourced silicate materials, comprised of thin fibrous crystals, it is a very strong material resistant to fire and also heat, it has regular read more…
For some people, the weekend is a time to chill and relish the company of good friends, however for most homeowners the weekend is for renovating the home and starting D.I.Y. jobs that seem never-ending. If you’re a home owner, then chances are you may have tried being handy so you’re able to avoid the cost of paying a specialist the excessive fees you pay. But to take on the most basic of jobs on your own might seem overwhelming, so here’s a list of a few things I commonly do when plunging into a new challenge.
Plan:
You’ll find read more…
Sometimes it is a good idea to hire a professional. Should you be remodeling your basement and you’ve not a clue how to handle the vents once you remove the ceiling panels, it may be a good idea to hire a professional to sort everything out. In case you are upgrading the floor in your own family room and you have no clue of just what a hammer looks like, I’d say it’s a fantastic thought to get a professional. You will need to determine the time you’ll be spending on the project, if it’s some thing you’ll need read more…
Ambient sounds are part of every last dwelling yet they are often relatively annoying and annoying in the end. For almost all house owners, it may add a good deal of comfort when outdoor noises are decreased through the utilization of adequate soundproofing components. When making properties less noisy, expert building contractors include these elements determined by certain factors such as different types of sounds concerned, scheduled renovations and the house’s layout.
Understanding the formula of sound propagation can be important so as to use the most effective way to impede or break down the noises. Efficient soundproofing may include read more…
Most real estate agents will let you know that there is nothing more inviting to potential home buyers than natural wood kitchen cabinets, because they bring a sense of style and warmth into any kitchen. There are a lot of other features of hardwood kitchen cabinets.
1. Natural wood cabinets fit in any kitchen style. There are certain traditions with regards to the woods and finishes usually found in a variety of kitchen trends, together with traditions about cabinet door types. To illustrate, a darker hardwood like ebony, mahogany or cherry is most appropriate in a conventional, country or eclectic read more…
Old-fashioned furniture generally refers to one of two things: furniture hand-made out of natural resources, or furniture that seems to be handmade. Old-fashioned furniture is the kind of furniture usually used in a hunting lodge, mountainside chalet or a cabin in the woods. Authentic rustic furniture is quite heavy, solid, and hardy. At present, rustic bedroom furniture has started to become the hottest trend in bedroom decoration .
Bedroom furniture is something that someone uses for an entire lifetime. If regarded with the utmost care, old-time bedroom furniture is the most fantastic option for any bedroom. Beds, dressers, armoires, chests, read more…
Modern furniture for the home is now easy to get for all the rooms in the home, and purchasing the most recent contemporary furniture is amazingly convenient. You will find different types of modern furniture that range from living room furniture to outdoor furniture. For contemporary living room furniture, there is a huge variety of modern home furnishings including eye-catching leather couches, 2 or 3 seat leather sofas, the unique bobo leather sofa featuring arched Beech wood backrests, along with innovative chaise lounges that have been crafted in different sizes and styles which will help enhance the visual appeal read more…
There are many conditions to be looked at when buying dining room furniture that can match your chosen lifestyle as well as your taste. If you study some home design principles, it will be much easier to achieve a beautiful dining room.
So, when choosing furniture for the dining room, think about the following important aspects:
It doesn’t matter what dining room furniture you choose, balance is the most significant aspect, because it gives your dining room the sense of equilibrium. To attain balance, take into account the following things:
• Color – A lot of color will spoil the end results.
A great deal of furniture can be bought in a typical office setup, but the single most vital furnishings is the type of chairs workers use. There are a variety of things which you should think of when purchasing chairs and other office furniture. One is its capability to keep you alert all throughout the day.
But more importantly, the type of chairs you should use, specifically if you may sit for longer hours before a computer, are those which could keep your legs and muscles healthy, like for example an office recliner chair. But bear in mind, in selecting read more…
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