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Insulation - Page 9 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.

  • Exterior Insulation: Strategies for Success in the Field and Staying on Budget

    In this webinar, builder and energy-efficiency consultant Randy Williams overviews affordable and effective strategies and details for installing rigid insulation on the outside of a home.

  • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs

    Understand which type of whole-house heat-recovery ventilation system will create an efficient and healthy home, depending on certain environmental factors.

  • Avoid Sound Transfer by Isolating Electrical Gang Boxes

    Isolating electrical gang boxes can make a difference when it comes to sound transfer between rooms that share a wall.

  • Improve Home Efficiency with Inflation Reduction Act Rebates

    The new legislation would provide $9 billion for efficiency upgrades, including heating, cooling and cooking appliances, photovoltaics, and electric vehicles.

  • Is Adding Exterior Insulation When Re-siding Your Home Worth the Cost?

    Re-cladding a house is typically a once-in-multiple-generations upgrade, and can be an economical opportunity to make walls more energy efficient.

  • Podcast 481: Detailing a Slab, High-Performance Water Heaters, and DIY Dense-Pack

    Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about HVAC training, wood pellets, and minisplits before taking questions about thermal breaks for slabs, split-style heat-pump water heaters, and doing your own dense-pack cellulose insulation.

  • Podcast 477: Air-Sealing Electrical Boxes, 2x3s for a Shed, and Keeping Pipes From Freezing

    Kiley, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about climate control for sheds, energy audits, and water-heater condensate before taking questions about air-sealing electrical boxes, building with 2x3s, and keeping pipes warm with insulation.

  • Podcast 475: Material Delivery, End Dams on Head Flashing, and Sealing Barbara’s Barn

    Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about exposed sheathing and setting up for a blower-door test before taking listener questions about delivery subcontractors, how to make a head flashing, and sealing a post-frame building at grade.

  • Sheathing and Insulation in One

    NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing from LP could make wall assemblies simpler by combining OSB sheathing with XPS insulation.

  • Live: The Wall Assembly Final Four

    Join Travis Brungardt, Connor Malloy, and a few special guests as we crown the Wall Assembly winners and celebrate another year of winning wall assemblies.

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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
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 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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