Speak the Insulation Lingo

This article was crafted with the help of Woodman Insulation.

There are numerous reasons to insulate your home: for your comfort, to block out sound, to lower utility bills, to conserve resources, or to get a tax credit. “Insulation is one of the very few areas of home improvement that pays you back,” asserts Jeff Woodman of Atlanta, Georgia’s Woodman Insulation. If you do not work in the construction business, you may be unfamiliar with certain terms used in the insulation industry. Take a peek at some of the lingo you might hear if you decide to update your insulation.

Batts

A form of insulation. Batts come in pre-cut pieces that may or may not be backed with paper, aluminum foil, or plastic.

Cellulose

Material made from paper or plant products. This type of insulation is considered to be one of the “greener” options.

Code

A set of standards meant to regulate different aspects of a building. Insulation codes vary from municipality to municipality and state to state.

Fiberglass

In insulation, a material made of glass fibers and plastic. Different forms of insulation, including batt and blown-in insulation, can be made out of fiberglass.

Icynene

A brand of foam insulation. This product expands once it is sprayed onto the area being insulated

R-Value

A measurement determining the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the resistance to heat flow.

Retrofit

Insulation work that occurs on an existing structure. The opposite of retrofit would be new construction work.

This article was crafted with the help of Woodman Insulation, an Atlanta expert in Insulation. While we strive to provide relevant information to all homeowners, some of the material we publish may not pertain to every area.

Please contact your local Best Pick companies for any further area-specific advice.

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