Insulation Tips & Recommendations

To improve your home insulation...

Insulate the roof and the ceiling
Insulate the attic
Insulate the walls
Insulate the ducts and pipes
Use adequate insulation materials
Take into account your climate zone
Replace old conventional windows
Seal and weatherstrip windows and doors

And don’t forget some basics...

Safety measures

- Do not use loose-fill insulation materials in inappropriate spaces: high sloped ceilings, windy roof spaces…

- Be aware of potential overheating, electrical and moisture problems caused by incorrect insulation.

- If the insulation material is absorbent - and there isn’t vapour barriers and the ventilation is insufficient -, moisture can be unstoppable.

- Use non-combustible barriers, in the case of loose-fill insulation.

- Allow clearances around electric appliances and fittings: flues, fans, light fittings. Ask a professional electrician to inspect surfaces where insulation material may interact with electric cables, and speak about the necessity of clearances.

- Wear adequate clothing, gloves, masks when installing glass fibre, mineral wool or cellulose fibre insulation.

Gaps and insulation

A small gap can greatly reduce the insulating performance. Material should be well fitted, and leaks sealed and avoided.  Corners of walls, ceilings and floors should be properly insulated, and it shouldn’t be allowed gaps around ducts and pipes. Similarly, the holes, joins and ends of the insulation material should be well sealed or closed.

Do not compress materials

Do not compress bulk material insulation. They should be fixed with their normal thickness to perform well.

Air spaces

Maintain an air space of at least 0,8-1,2 inches (2 or 3 cm) next to the shiny surface of reflective insulation. Otherwise the insulating properties will be reduced.

Dust and reflective surfaces of sheet insulation material

Dust settled on the reflective surface of sheet insulation material reduce its performance. To avoid it, keep the reflective surfaces downwards (or keep them vertical).

Perforated foils

In walls and under floors, when dealing with porous materials, use perforated reflective foil. It will prevent rotting, by allowing materials to dry.

Frames

Door and windows frames (around glazed areas, and namely the metal frames) may have thermal breaks. Take them into account, namely in cold climates where they are responsible for important heat losses.

Other building frames – in walls, ceiling or floors – constitute other important sources of heat and cool losses. To avoid them you may use polystyrene isolating strips. Or fix polystyrene boards over the surface of the frame.

Vapour barriers

Use vapour barriers to keep moisture away from bulk insulation materials and to maintain their performance.  


 

 

See:
Insulation benefits
Insulation materials
Insulation performance
Fiberglass, mineral wool & Home insulation
Reflective Insulation
Cellulose insulation
Roof Insulation
Walls Insulation
Pipe insulation
Moisture and insulation
How to deal with Insulation contractors and home builders
Insulation in your climate zone



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