Insulation can be informally defined as the prevention of the travel of heat through certain surfaces. For instance, covering the ceiling with insulation material will reduce the escape of heath from the home during the cold winter months, and therefore keeping in warm. On the other hand, during hot summer months, insulation will prevent heat from the exterior to travel into the home through the roof, and as such the home will be kept cool in summer.
Insulation can be installed anywhere in the home where interior temperature must be controlled. Ceiling insulation is very important in ensuring that the heating inside the home is utilized to its best ability and can save the home owner a lot of money. It is estimated that as much as thirty five percent of heating can be lost through the ceiling during winter, and thirty percent of heat can be added during the summer. They equally result in a higher use of energy to regulate temperature.
Ceiling insulation comes in a range of types, and it is important to be aware how the construction of the roof will be influenced by different types of insulation, as some may work a lot better in a particular space than others. The cost of the insulation and fitting also vary.
The most common types of ceiling insulation are:
- Loose Fill commonly consists of detached pieces of fiber and balls of fiber. These are poured into the clefts and spaces of the ceiling with specialist filling equipment. Loose filling can be made of fiberglass, synthetic or natural roughage, wool, or recyclable products such as paper. This insulation filling can be costly than other insulative materials, and the benefit of using loose ceiling insulation is that it can be pushed into crevices which would otherwise not be covered, and thus can provide a better covering of insulation.
- Sheet insulation is made of fibers and come in spools of varying thickness and width. Sheet insulation is normally seen as the most cost effective option but they can be spoiled by incorrect application or conditions and may need replacing more often than loose filler.
- Panel insulation is usually constructed from PVC or polystyrene and come in various sizes and lengths. Due to the nature of the materials, panels of insulation can be a fire hazard and have to be installed by a professional.