Users questions 

Should you tape insulation seams?

Joe Ford

Should you tape insulation seams?

Taping the seams and any holes prevents vapor leaks. Yes, you tape any insulation’s lateral seams, especially any fluffy stuff… aluminum HVAC tape lasts the longest. The backing of the insulation must be on the outside surface.

What insulation should I use between floor joists?

Fiberglass insulation batts

What is the best insulation for an attic?

Blown-in. Also known as loose-fill, blown-in insulation comes in tiny chunks packaged in large bags, and entails using a blowing machine to fill in necessary spaces. Fiberglass, cotton, and mineral wool can all work as loose-fill material, but the far and away top choice for blown-in insulation is fiberglass.

Can I insulate the underside of my roof?

Open-cell spray polyurethane foam or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) insulation can be sprayed along the underside of the roof sheathing to provide a conditioned and insulated attic space that can be durable and efficient in all climate zones (see Figure 1).

Will adding more insulation attic make difference?

The conditions are right for warm air inside your home to rise to the top. Eventually, the heat seeps through your insulation and the warm air escapes through little air gaps in your attic. The more insulation and fewer air gaps you’ve got, the slower the heat and air escape.

Which is better cellulose or fiberglass insulation?

At 3.5 per inch of material, the R-value of blown-in cellulose is 23% better per inch than fiberglass batts! According to research done at the Oak Ridge National Lab, fiberglass loses up to 50% of its R-value in very cold conditions; making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates

What is the safest attic insulation?

Blown-in cellulose is an excellent option for an attic because it will fill all the joist spaces completely with very few air gaps.

  • Loose cellulose is made of 85-percent recycled material, mostly ground-up newspaper.
  • It resists rot and mildew, and is treated with boric acid as a fire retardant.

Does cellulose insulation mold?

Mold growth sets in: Thanks to its chemical treatment, mold doesn’t grow on cellulose insulation. However, water-soaked fibers sit right against wood studs and drywall, which are susceptible to mold growth

What is the best building insulation?

Aerogel is more expensive, but definitely the best type of insulation. Fiberglass is cheap, but requires careful handling. Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant. Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and effective, but hard to apply