How Does Fiberglass Roof Insulation Work

While fiberglass batts continue to be a widely used form of insulation they don t always perform to their rated r value.

How does fiberglass roof insulation work.

3 many companies don t own the expensive equipment insulation blowing machine and dedicated truck to perform the work so they promote rolled fiberglass. Rigid foam boards trap air or another gas to resist conductive heat flow. Other varieties would be loose fill which would be the material you see being blown into attics. It is made by pulling strands of glass into thin fibers.

4 most homeowners are very familiar with fiberglass they ve seen it at home improvement stores or at new construction sites so that familiarity lends towards helping sell it. The more common formats of fiberglass insulation are the batts most people are familiar with as well as rolls of insulation. Fiberglass insulation can sometimes get compressed causing its r value to decrease. Bulky materials resist conductive and to a lesser degree convective heat flow in a building cavity.

There are however a few dangers associated with the installation of fiberglass if you are considering installing fiberglass insulation in your home here are a few dangers to know before you get started. People can be affected by fiberglass when they come into contact with it either during the manufacturing process or when it is being used in a building. Fiberglass is a composite material made of a plastic matrix reinforced by tiny glass fibers. How fiberglass insulation works.

Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in. In this how it works department associate editor rob yagid looks at some of the ways you can avoid common mistakes that prevent fiberglass batts from performing well. Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. How does fiberglass insulation work.

Fiberglass is a popular residential and commercial insulator because of its energy saving qualities and minimal fire hazards. If fiberglass isn t fitted in properly it can leave gaps for airflow. Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass rock and slag wool cellulose and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. Fiberglass insulation or glass wool is a man made vitreous fiber.

Reflective insulation and fiberglass work differently and one type may be better than the other for specific needs though neither is inherently objectively better for roof insulation. It is lightweight yet strong and since glass isn t a good conductor of heat it s a very effective insulation material.