What is Insulation?
Insulation means keeping or retaining. In the case of construction, insulation is used in the management of heat. You either want to gain heat or lose heat. For the most part, every single house or roof has some form of insulation in it, partially because you don’t want air to escape and you don’t want water to enter.
WHY DOES INSULATION MATTER?
Reinforcement – As listed above, insulation is important for reinforcing what the purpose of the roof is. It keeps things out of your home, be it rain or otherwise.
Keeps Heat out – It especially keeps heat out. When it is the middle of our Houston summer, you don’t want to end up on the losing side of a battle with the weather. If your roof isn’t properly insulated, the cool air can escape and make your HVAC work harder and longer.
Lowers Electric Bill – The cooler your house is, the less the HVAC needs to work to put you there. This over time reduces your electric bill and pays for itself.
What are the kinds of insulation?
Fiberglass – Very common insulation, keeps heat out but does and doesn’t retain water, but how effective can glass be? It’s also eco-friendly.
Mineral Wool – Another eco-friendly option, this will not melt or combust, but it is also a little more expensive.
Cellulose – This is the most eco-friendly material and is also a little pricey, but it is also flammable.
Polyurethane Foam – This is the best insulator on the market, it even doubles as a sound insulator. But it’s bad for the environment, expensive, and flammable.
Styrofoam – This is the trickiest choice. It is not eco-friendly, it is flammable, and it is difficult to use with roof imperfections, so the more oblong your roof is, the more it will cost. But it is the least expensive material on the market.