Among the many aspects of new home construction that are easy to forget about but impossible to ignore in the long term is selecting and installing quality insulation to keep you warm during cold weather and cool during the summer. There’s nothing particularly glamorous about insulation installation—it’s not like designing your dream kitchen or choosing amenities for your bathroom—but insulation plays a key role in keeping your home comfortable and can have a huge impact on your utility bills.
With all the advances in insulation design that have taken place in recent years, there’s probably never been a better time to be building a new house, at least when it comes to keeping the home well insulated and comfortable. And as far as insulation is concerned, the best time to mess with it is during construction, rather than after the fact. With this in mind, there are some things related to insulation that you’ll need to think about when preparing to build:
- Know which spaces need to be insulated. Most people, when they think of insulation, are likely to think of two things: attics and exterior walls. To be sure, these are critical places to properly insulate. But to reap the full benefits of insulation, the areas around ductwork, floors above unheated garages, cathedral-style ceilings and even your foundation should be insulated to keep temperatures stable and comfortable. If you have a basement, making sure the walls are insulated is a great way to save money on energy costs and keep the space pleasant for everyone. Talk to a professional about all the areas in a home that should be insulated.
- Understand your options for insulation materials. There are numerous types of insulation available for use in new construction, including fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam and batt insulation. Depending on the part of the home, you may need to use different types of insulation in different areas to gain the most benefits. The team at Chase Insulation works with a variety of insulation materials, and can answer questions about any of the products we use.
- Get the most out of your insulation. While insulation is a key factor in keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient, it’s important to remember that it interacts with other aspects of your home to deliver its benefits. Making sure that your home is well sealed to prevent air leakage and that you’re installing an efficient and high quality HVAC system are also very important steps in designing your new home.
Ultimately, the way to approach insulation installation is as a crucial element of the whole project of building your house, not as an afterthought. It’s important that your insulation be integrated into the plan—it’s not just there to fill in the gaps.
When you’re thinking about building a new home or adding onto your existing one, remember how important choosing the right insulation can be in terms of keeping comfortable and cutting down on energy costs. Contact Chase Insulation to handle all of your insulation installation needs!