Insulation is Key to a Warm, Comfortable Home



When most people think about a cozy, warm home, they first think of their fireplace or central heating system – but it’s really your insulation that matters the most. Here are some insights to help make sure your new or remodeled home stays warm through the winter.

Why do Homes Need Insulation? 

 Essentially, the purpose of insulation in the home is to create an effective barrier around the building, preventing warm air from escaping in the winter months and keeping your home cool in summer. Heat isn’t just lost through the walls – it also escapes through your roof, your windows and any gaps around windows and doors.

This is a serious issue for two reasons – firstly, because it makes your home less comfortable to live in, and secondly, because your home heating and cooling systems are going to have to work much harder to warm or cool your space. Since heating and cooling takes up between 50-70% of the energy consumption of your home, this means a big increase in your monthly bills.

How Does Insulation Work? 

 It’s natural for warm and cool air to flow. In winter, heat moves outwards and upwards into unheated spaces and the outdoors. In summer, this process reverses, with warm air from outside moving into the cool spaces of your home.

The more effective your insulation is, the better it works to prevent this natural process. You can tell the quality of an insulation product by its thermal resistance rating. The higher the R-Value, the better the quality of the product.

Types of Insulation 

 There are insulation products for every part of your home. The most important locations for insulation are your roof and walls, but you can also insulate windows, floors and other critical areas.
There are a wide range of insulation products on the market, including:

  • Environmentally-friendly insulation – Recycled or green products like shredded denim, sheep’s wool, newspaper, hemp or cellulose.
  • Spray foam – Very versatile and can be applied quickly between framed studs of walls, floors and ceilings.
  • Fiberglass – A popular option that is very cost-effective.
  • Radiant barriers – A great roof insulation consisting of metallic silver panels that reflect radiant heat, keeping your home cool on even very hot days and keeping warm air from escaping the home in winter.

 Speak to Your Residential Architect About the Best Insulation Solution for Your Home 

 Need an architect in NJ? With 20 years of experience, the architecture firm of Seth A. Leeb knows that the secret to creating outstanding homes is building a great client relationship. As a full-service architectural firm, we are able to assist our clients all the way from site analysis and design conception through the construction of their home itself. For more information on our home architect services in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at http://sethleeb.wpengine.com/

Original content posted on https://leeb-architecture.com/insulation-is-key-to-a-warm-comfortable-home/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hybrid Office Design: A Guide for Architects and Employers

Image
Hybrid office design is now standard practice across the board. Some companies still require employees to be in the office full-time, while many others offer a permanent hybrid work alternative.  Gallup  states that hybrid workers are, on average, coming into the office three days per week, which requires a rethink of modern office architecture. We need innovative office spaces to accommodate the diverse needs of hybrid work. That being said, our team of architects in NJ have put together a guide to hybrid office design based on the most recent commercial office additions to our portfolio. What Are Hybrid Work Models?    What are flexible and hybrid work models at their core? They link remote workers with on-site employees and include spaces such as home, the office, and a third space that could be a local coffee shop or a more ambitious spot like the beach. Employees have the flexibility to choose when they will be in the office, unless there are team-specific ...
Read more

How to Keep Commercial Building Costs On-Budget

Image
Commercial building projects are highly complex and demanding – and it’s important that they not only stay on schedule, but that they stay on budget too. While unforeseen circumstances can push both of these goals out, there are ways recommended by  Commercial architecture in NJ   to help prevent delays and rising costs. Know the Weak Points in  Commercial Building Design  and Construction Projects  When a commercial building project is facing delays and rising costs, there are several areas where weak points in the project are often found. By knowing these weak points and having a strategy that prevents them from collapsing, your project should move forward much more smoothly. These weak points include: Lack of vital design information –  Incomplete architectural plans that lack certain details and specifications will cause confusion, delays, miscommunication and even more work due to tear-outs. Choosing cheap contractors –  Contract...
Read more

How Residential Architecture is Responding to Climate Change

Image
Climate change is something every industry, including architecture, has started  adapting to. Building residential architecture that is made for the ever-changing weather challenges like extreme hot temperatures, flooding, and storms has become an integral part of the future.  Climate adaptation in architecture has changed to increase sustainability and the safety of the people who reside in homes that experience extreme weather patterns. Our team of  residential architects in NJ  takes a closer look below:  Evolution of Climate-Responsive Residential Architecture Climate architecture considers the environment and the structural adaptations of a building to thrive in its abode. Here are some ways in which the building industry has transformed residential architecture for climate change: Using eco-friendly resources Incorporating natural building materials Maximizing the building structure Focusing on the environment to reduce carbon emissions has become vital. T...
Read more