▪ House insulation has an "r-value". R-values are an indication of the insulating effectiveness of the material or "thermal efficiency". For example, fiberglass insulation with an r-value of R-19 is not as thick (and thus will not be as good an insulator) as insulation with an r-value of R-30. How do you know which r-value to use? It depends on your local climate. There are many insulation-related websites that can lead you in the right direction. Alternately, an architect can tell you.

▪ Different r-values are used in different parts of your house, depending on the insulation needs. Higher r-values are typically used in the roof, while the walls may require a comparatively lower r-value.

▪ Because the stud walls of a house are typically 16 inches wide, insulation comes in "batts" that are appropriately sized to fit in these spaces. They are held in place with wire fasteners commonly available at any hardware store, such as Home Depot or Lowe's.

▪ Note that foam insulation is an alternative to fiberglass insulation. There are companies that specialize in foam insulation. One of the advantages of foam insulation versus fiberglass insulation is that foam insulation can provide you a higher r-value without taking up as much space. So, if your roof rafters are made of 2x6's instead of 2x8's, foam insulation may be a better choice for more insulating effectiveness.

▪ Installing house insulation is one job that I will never try to do myself. If you are installing fiberglass insulation, you should wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and goggles to protect your skin and eyes from the fiberglass insulation particles that can irritate your skin. This can get very hot while you are doing the physical task of the installation. Installing insulation can be arduous. I prefer to leave it to an insulation contractor.

Insulation - Part 2

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University