Some of the Common Materials Used in Insulation

A number of materials are used for insulating a building. Some of the materials are costly and some of them are cheap. Today, there are many materials available on the market that are cheap and effective. Insulating your home has many benefits. But not everyone can buy expensive materials. We cannot say which is the best because every material has its pros and cons. In the end, it depends on the buyer and their needs. That is why; it is important for you to be aware of the common materials. It will help you consider the best material for insulating your home. Moreover, you can easily find batts and blankets, SIPs, and attic insulation in Toronto online. The common materials in insulation are as follows:

Mineral Wool

Mineral wool refers to many different types of insulation. The first type is rock wool made up of basalt. The second type of insulation is made of glass called fiberglass and the last one is slag wool. The slag wool is basically extracted from the steel mills and most of the mineral wool used in Toronto is slag wool. A disadvantage of wool is that it is not suitable for overheating conditions because it is not fire resistant. That is why; it is used in conjunction with other materials to make it fire resistant. The R-value of mineral wool is between 2.5 to 3.5.

Fiberglass

It is the most commonly used material for insulating buildings. The main reason for this is that fiberglass is made using recycled glass which makes it cheaper compared to other materials. It is fire resistant and hence very efficient in minimizing the heat transfer. The only disadvantage of fiberglass is handling because of the way it is made. It is made using shards, powder and woven silicon which can cause damage to the human skin, eyes, and lungs. That is why; while insulating with fiberglass, you need to use safety equipment. Anyway, fiberglass insulation is non-flammable and cheaper than other common insulation materials on the market.

Cellulose

Cellulose is another common insulation type and is eco-friendly. This insulation is made using paper, cardboard and other similar materials. Moreover, this material is non-flammable and has an R-value of 3.1 to 3.7. When speaking with a specialist he told us, “Cellulose is really the best insulation solution for minimizing the fire damage. It has no-oxygen in it which makes it fire resistant.” Everyone knows that cellulose helps in increasing the oxygen. If a material does not contain oxygen then it can decrease the fire damage.

Every material has its disadvantages too including cellulose. It is a good fire-resistant insulation but it can cause allergies for some people. That is why some people will not recommend you to use it. But it is still very cheap compared to fiberglass. Still, it is not one of the most fire-resistant insulations on the market.