Classic Insulation & Pest Control

What Is An R-value?

An R-value is a rating used to measure how well insulation can resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation properties and the slower heat and cold flows through it. Because insulation with higher R-values is more energy-efficient, the colder the climate, the higher the required R-value.

Different areas of the home have different recommended R-values, depending on what materials are used and how much space is available for insulation. The table below shows the suggested R-values for homes.

The R-value you need will also depend on where you live. The map shows you what R-values you might need, based on your home being located in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Why Insulate?

Insulation is one of the smartest investments you can make in your home because it provides year-round comfort and savings in three important ways:

 

Lower energy bills

Insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter, which lowers your heating costs. In the summer, insulation keeps your home cooler, which eases the load on your air conditioner.

Quieter, more comfortable living

Insulation can actually absorb sound, reducing the unwanted noise from appliances, audio equipment, conversation and other sources of sound that are transmitted through your walls and floors. Insulation also keeps your family more comfortable by making it easier for your furnace or air conditioner to maintain a constant temperature.

Healthy home, healthy environment

Reducing your family's overall formaldehyde exposure can make your home healthier and safer. And using Johns Manville Formaldehyde-free™ fiber glass insulation can help you achieve that reduction and follow the California Air Resources Board's recommendations to use formaldehyde-free building materials, including insulation, so that it emits little or no formaldehyde. Fiber glass insulation helps prevent the growth of potentially hazardous mold and mildew in your walls, air ducts and ceilings that can result from trapped moisture.

Where Should I Insulate?

The more you insulate, the more your energy savings can add up. Insulating attics, walls, ceilings, and crawl spaces can have a dramatic effect on your energy savings, and can create a more comfortable home year-round.

 

Insulating for Optimal Results

The thermal envelope establishes a boundary. Heated and/or cooled areas are entirely enclosed by the envelope. Unconditioned spaces such as the attic, crawl spaces and the garage are outside the thermal envelope. You should insulate all exterior walls that separate conditioned spaces from unconditioned spaces. Insulating attics closes the thermal envelope from above.

To further ensure the conditioned living spaces of the home are enclosed, all cracks or openings should be filled with insulation. To control heat leakage, apply caulk or foam sealants around openings like window and door frames and any openings where wires or pipes go through the envelope.

Insulation is also used in interior walls, ceilings and floors for sound control and sometimes to create a thermal envelope from room to room.

Which Insulation Do I Need?

The type of insulation you need depends on where the insulation will be installed, what R-values are needed, and your budget.

 

Faced Insulation

This is insulation with a facing already attached to it. Facing acts as a vapor retarder and is commonly made from Kraft paper or foil, depending on the intended application. In addition to its thermal and acoustical properties, faced insulation is ideal for moisture control on exterior walls. The type of insulation you need depends on where the insulation will be installed, what R-values are needed, and your budget.

Unfaced Insulation

Unfaced insulation has no facing attached to it. This type of insulation is effective when controlling unwanted noise in internal walls and to assist with moisture control. Where vapor control is required, a separate vapor retarder can be used.

Blown-in Insulation

This type of insulation consists of loose-fill material that is blown into position through a hose connected to a blowing machine. This type of insulation is made for nonconforming spaces and hard-to-reach areas, like corners, edges and be made from a variety of materials such as fiber glass and cellulose.

 

Poly-encapsulated Insulation

Poly-encapsulated insulation, such as Comfort Therm© insulation, is entirely wrapped in plastic. This allows for a more comfortable installation with less itch and dust. This type of insulation also has superior acoustic properties. The poly-faced vapor retarder is twice as resistant to moisture as Kraft-faced products.