Insulation Options

We here at Dreyer’s DKI in Gainesville recently offered you a little advice on why you should make sure your home is adequately insulated. If you’d like to upgrade your insulation, there’s no need to muddle through it alone. Let us walk you through the different options available to you.

R-Values

The ‘R-value’ of insulation is in essence a rating of its efficiency. Homes in Florida obviously do not require the same level of insulation as houses in Alaska, so you don’t need to aim for a high R-value. If you live in Northern Florida, it’s a good idea to aim for an R-value of 3, whereas if you live in Central or Southern Florida an R-value of 2 should be sufficient. Make sure you don’t waste money on unnecessary insulation by checking the R-value of any you plan on buying.

Different forms

Insulation can be installed in many ways as it comes in a variety of forms, namely:

• Blow-in: usually made from fiberglass or cellulose, blow-in insulation is literally ‘blown in’ through a hose, so it’s great for areas that are tough to get to (attics and the inside of walls, for example).
• Batts: batts are pre-cut sections of insulation that are good for use between framing, and can be used to insulate walls, ceilings, floors and attics. They are usually made from fiberglass or rock wool.
• Rolls: much like batts, rolls come in pre-cut sections, though they are much longer so are better where lengthier sections of insulation are required (floors and attics, for example).
• Foam board: rigid panels of polystyrene or polyurethane that can be used to insulate nearly any part of your home, although given their rigidity they can be a little trickier to install.