Adding insulation materials to an existing home

Home insulation solutions have become a crucial topic for those concerned with sustainable living. Installing home insulation in a new home is straightforward, but what if you want to install it in an existing home?

Insulation solutions for existing homes

"Adding insulation is very easy - you can do it yourself - but it can only be installed in the ceilings, as you can't rip your walls apart," says PK Mohan from Fletcher Insulation. "All you need to do is open up the manhole cover and go in and just spread it out." However, it's important to make sure you only walk on the joists of the ceiling so you don't put your feet through the plasterboard.

The only home insulation option for the walls of an existing home, according to PK, is to install what's known as 'glue-in' insulation. This is a fairly old-fashioned form of insulation that is often made from newspaper, and it's only temporary - after a while it will 'settle' and cease to be effective.

Types of insulation materials

The most popular home insulation solution on the market is glass wool insulation, commonly known as pink batts. "It is spun as a wool and gives you a whole layer of insulation which can be laid down in the roof or ceiling and in between floors," explains PK.

There are also glass wool insulation blankets, and these come in two types. "One is a normal blanket, which is glass wool. There is no cover on the top or bottom," says PK. "The second type is covered with a layer of foil. This is called 'normal faced' glass wool blanket insulation and it is used for commercial and construction purposes." Polyester insulation is the second most popular type of insulation on the market.

Energy retention qualities

All insulation materials possess something known as an R-value, which refers to the amount of heat that is stopped or retained by the insulation versus what is allowed to escape. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. "In roofs, you'd normally go for an R-value of 3.5 to 3.8, because the insulation has to stop the heat coming through the top," says PK.

Glass wool is the cheapest type of insulation, followed by paper, and polyester is the most expensive.

Contact a professional and get the right insulation materials for your home: