| There are plenty of cheap and common insulation | | | | materials. Some recent studies on cellulose have |
| materials available on the market today. Many of | | | | shown that it might be an excellent product for |
| these have been around for quite some time. | | | | use in minimizing fire damage. Because of the |
| Each of these insulations have their own ups and | | | | compactness of the material, cellulose contains |
| downs. As a result, when deciding which insulation | | | | next to no oxygen within it. Without oxygen |
| material you should use, you should be sure to be | | | | within the material, this helps to minimize the |
| aware of which material would work the best in | | | | amount of damage that a fire can cause. So not |
| your situation. | | | | only is cellulose perhaps one of the most |
| Recently, materials like aerogel (used by NASA | | | | eco-friendly forms of insulation, but it is also one |
| for the construction of heat resistant tiles, capable | | | | of the most fire resistant forms of insulation. |
| of withstanding heat up to approximately 2000 | | | | However, there are certain downsides to this |
| degrees Fahrenheit with little or no heat transfer), | | | | material as well, such as the allergies that some |
| have become affordable and available. One in | | | | people may have to newspaper dust. Also, finding |
| particular is Pyrogel XT. Pyrogel is one of the | | | | individuals skilled in using this type of insulation is |
| most efficient industrial insulations in the world. Its | | | | relatively hard compared to, say, fiberglass. Still, |
| required thicknesses are 50% - 80% less than | | | | cellulose is a cheap and effective means of |
| other insulation materials. Although a little more | | | | insulating. |
| expensive than some of the other insulation | | | | 4. Polypolyurethane Foam |
| materials, Pyrogel is being used more and more | | | | While not the most abundant of insulations, |
| for specific applications. | | | | polyurethane foams are an excellent form of |
| However, there are many useful insulation | | | | insulation. Nowadays, polyurethane foams use |
| materials that are cheap enough to be affordable | | | | non-chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas for use as a |
| and useful in bulk. Here are the 5 most common | | | | blowing agent. This helps to decrease the amount |
| types of insulation materials: | | | | of damage to the ozone layer. They are relatively |
| 1. Fiberglass | | | | light, weighing approximately two pounds per cubic |
| Fiberglass is the most common insulation used in | | | | foot (2 lb/ft^3). They have an R-value of |
| modern times. Because of how it is made, by | | | | approximately R-6.5 per inch of thickness. There |
| effectively weaving fine strands of glass into an | | | | are also low density foams that can be sprayed |
| insulation material, fiberglass is able to minimize | | | | into areas that have no insulation. These types of |
| heat transfer. The main downside of fiberglass is | | | | polyurethane insulation tend to have |
| the danger of handling it. Since fiberglass is made | | | | approximately R-3.6 rating per inch of thickness. |
| out of finely woven silicon, glass powder and tiny | | | | Another advantage of this type of insulation is |
| shards of glass are formed. These can cause | | | | that it is fire resistant. |
| damage to the eyes, lungs, and even skin, if the | | | | 5. Straw Bales |
| proper safety equipment isn't worn. Nevertheless, | | | | And finally, straw bales. While you might not |
| when the proper safety equipment is used, | | | | expect straw bales to be of interest in this world |
| fiberglass installation can be performed without | | | | of modern synthetic insulations, you might be |
| incident. Fiberglass is an excellent insulation | | | | surprised at the ratings that straw bales have |
| material, with ratings as high as R-38. If you are | | | | received. Recent testing made by the Oak Ridge |
| seeking a cheap insulation, this is definitely the | | | | National Laboratory showed that straw bales had |
| way to go, though installing it definitely requires | | | | as high as R-3 per inch of thickness. While straw |
| safety precautions. Be sure to use eye | | | | itself is not fire resistant, it can still be used in |
| protection, masks, and gloves when handling this | | | | many situations where insulation is needed with |
| product. | | | | fire perhaps being of little or no concern. Also, |
| 2. Mineral Wool | | | | when used in conjunction with other more fire |
| Mineral wool actually refers to several different | | | | resistant insulations, straw bales can become an |
| types of insulation. First, it may refer to glass | | | | efficient and cheap way to insulate an area. |
| wool, which is fiberglass manufactured from | | | | There are many forms of insulation available, each |
| recycled glass. Second, it may refer to rock wool, | | | | with their own set of properties. Only by |
| which is a type of insulation made from basalt. | | | | researching each kind thoroughly can you discover |
| Finally, it may refer to slag wool, which is | | | | which will be the right kind for your particular |
| produced from the slag from steel mills. The | | | | needs. As a quick overview: |
| majority of mineral wool in the United States is | | | | - Aerogel is more expensive, but definitely the |
| actually slag wool. The majority of mineral wool | | | | best type of insulation. |
| does not have additives to make it fire resistant, | | | | - Fiberglass is cheap, but requires careful handling. |
| making it poor for use in situation where extreme | | | | - Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant. |
| heat is present. When used in conjunction with | | | | - Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and |
| other, more fire resistant forms of insulation, | | | | effective, but hard to apply. |
| mineral wool can definitely be an effective way of | | | | - Polyurethane is an all around good insulation |
| insulating large areas. | | | | product, though not particularly eco-friendly. |
| 3. Cellulose | | | | - Straw bales are effective and eco-friendly, |
| Cellulose insulation is perhaps one of the most | | | | though not fire resistant. |
| eco-friendly forms of insulation. Cellulose is made | | | | Hopefully, this will help you in your attempt to find |
| from recycled cardboard, paper, and other similar | | | | the right insulation for your needs. |