Working with an insulation contractor to install or update the insulation in your home can significantly impact the heating and cooling costs and the comfort level inside your house. With many different products on the market, your insulation contractor can help you choose one that will be effective and will cause the least disruption to install.

Fiberglass Insulation

The most common insulation product used in homes under construction or during remodeling is fiberglass insulation that comes in rolls and is designed to tuck neatly into the space between the studs inside the walls of your home. The insulation is available in different R-values, so you can choose one that maximizes the insulating effect to help keep your home comfortable all year long. 

Some fiberglass insulation comes with a paper backing that acts as a vapor barrier and makes the material easier to install. The paper backing typically has edges that allow it to be stapled in place along the studs or the joists in the ceiling if you are adding it overhead. 

The insulation contractor may choose to use fiberglass insulation without the backing paper on it, but they will cover the wall or ceiling with a poly vapor barrier after all the insulation is in place. Often this is used in spots that do not allow the paper to be correctly secured or where the contractor must split the insulation to go around obstacles. 

Blown-In Insulation

Homes that need additional insulation but do not have open walls may benefit from a blown-in cellulose insulation product that many insulation contractors offer. Small access holes are drilled in the side of the house, and then the insulation is blown in from the highest point in the wall. The insulation contractor will fill the space in the wall to the top to maximize the amount of protection that is provided.

The cellulose insulation is made from recycled products and includes a coating to deter bugs and a flame retardant to reduce the risk of fire. The amount of insulation you can put in the wall will affect the R-value of the insulation, so talk with the contractor doing the work about the product and if it will offer the amount of insulation your need. 

In some homes, blown-in insulation is the best option because it does not require opening the walls to install. Once the installation is complete, the contractor will place plugs in all the holes that they drilled, and later you can install siding over them, so they can't be seen.