Insulation

I am going to talk a little bit here about a very important aspect of a homes comfort level. If you are building a new house or doing a home improvement project insulation is an area that you should certainly not overlook.  Today’s energy prices just seem to keep on going higher with no apparent end in sight.  Since I am a new home builder most of what I say here will pertain to new construction.  When your new house is being framed up it is not to early to start thinking of the insulation process.  It is a good idea to use a plate sealer under the 2 x 4 sill plate that is attached to your slab.  There are places when your walls are being framed up in the tees (where 2 walls meet at an intersection) and at corners that if not insulated prior to installing the exterior wall sheathing will probably in all honesty not be insulated properly.  We like to insulate these areas when we are framing so that we can be assured they are done.  There are different methods for insulation walls, batt insulation composed of either fiberglass or rock wool this type is easy to install and many do it your selves will choose this type.  Blow in fiberglass insulation blow in cellulose insulation and blow in foam insulation. Blow in types are best suited for new homes as it is done prior to installing drywall and because special equipment is needed, it is best left up to the professional.  R-value of insulation is its effectiveness for keeping heated air outside in the summer time and inside in the winter.  Basically when installed correctly the higher the R-value the better the performance.  So why wouldn’t you choose the highest rated insulation on the market, well cost could be an issue, but also it is possible to over insulate a home.  Homes need to be able to breathe. All cracks around windows and doors need to be sealed properly prior to any drywall work being done.I reommend when building a new house to have your insulation contractor go ahead and do a energy caulking package which will seal around all wire holes drilled in to the wall plates, usually will include caulking all interior corners of walls and top and bottom plates.  I can tell you it is well worth the small expense to do this.  Attic insulation is important because as heat rises up against your ceiling in the winter you do not want to let it escape thru your ceiling and out your roof.  I like to recommend at least an R-30 and preferably higher.  I tell my customers insulation is not something you see when the house is complete, but it is a very important part of the construction process.