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Insulation - Page 45 of 49

It’s taken years for the building community and the public to recognize the value of putting the right amount of insulation in a new house, or adding insulation to an existing house. But that day has arrived. Insulation not only means added energy efficiency at a time of rising energy costs, but also added comfort.

Building codes now require a certain amount of insulation that varies by climate: the colder it is, the more insulation you need. But the codes don’t tell builders or homeowners what kind of insulation to use, and manufacturers have invented new products and tinkered with old ones as they find ways to deliver products suited to the application and the budget.

Once limited to rolls of pink or yellow fiberglass, builders now have choices: spray polyurethane foam, cellulose made from old newsprint or cardboard, batts of wool and denim, mineral wool, rigid foam panels of polystyrene, even insulating foundations made from concrete-filled foam blocks. There are even spray foam insulation kits or blown in insulation machines for rent for intrepid homeowners who want to avoid the cost of hiring an insulation contractor.

As buyers demand houses that are more energy efficient, builders now have more effective ways of delivering. At the same time, research and experience in the field are helping contractors bring old houses up to snuff by sealing off air leaks and adding insulation in a process called weatherization.

A growing list of insulation options has brought with it a greater chance of installing insulation incorrectly. As some builders have discovered, mistakes can be costly. Fine Homebuilding’s extensive list of expert authors will keep you on track, helping not only with choosing the right insulation but making sure it’s installed for the greatest possible gains.

  • Stapling faced insulation to wall studs

    Q: Back when I was a builder, I always installed foil-faced or kraft-faced fiberglass-batt insulation by stapling the face flange to the sides of the stud. Side stapling also is…

  • Keeping a Basement Dry

    Waterproofing the foundation walls is only the first step; you also need a system of drains around the foundation that silt won't render useless.

  • What Are Structural Insulated Panels?

    SIPs provide solid structure and insulation for walls and ceilings

  • Holding back the flood

    When hurricane-fed floodwaters kept rising in our town last year, we watched the water creep closer to our doors. Water pouring into the house appeared inevitable. But there is always…

  • Insulating With Cellulose

    Blown in behind the drywall, high-density cellulose air-seals as it insulates.

  • Insulating a balloon-frame house

    Q: I own an balloon-frame 1850 home with 10-ft. ceilings and a significant number of windows. What is the best way to insulate this type of house? Kevin Delahanty, Ghent,…

  • Putting Fiberglass Insulation in Its Place

    Careful installation of fiberglass batts is likely to have a bigger impact on your life than tight-fitting miters.

  • Upgrading a foam-insulated roof

    Q: A lot of homes in the coastal area of Cape Cod Bay were built with strange, inadequate roof systems. The steeply pitched roofs are insulated only with 1-in. foam over…

  • Cutting circles in foam insulation

    As I put up a layer of foam-board insulation on my ceiling, I ran into the problem of how to cut the holes for the ceiling-light electrical boxes. As luck…

  • Framing Corners

    A survey of methods and materials used to build warm, inexpensive and strong corners.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
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    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

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