Best Wall Insulation For Cold Weather

Condensation within walls during cold weather is a common performance problem.

Best wall insulation for cold weather. Most such condensation is due to air leakage not diffusion. It s effective at all temperatures but can perform better for cold periods. If you are searching for the best insulation for hot climates you are probably living in arizona and starting to feel the summer s bite. As the home construction industry evolved from building old cold home designs towards warm comfortable modern structures beginning in the 1950s cold climate surprises began to appear.

Insulating your exterior walls in a cold climate is very important and ultimately should be done but it must be done wisely. Although air barrier and vapor control layers can reduce the quantity and occurrence of condensation due to both mechanisms the use of exterior insulation even if that insulation is a vapor barrier and or air barrier can warm sensitive surfaces within a. Blowing insulation in a wall cavity willy nilly is a sure fire way to create rot and mold issues. 6mil poly vapor barrier stapled to interior studs with fancy cardboard straps to resist tearing of the poly during insulation 1x3 horizontal strapping.

It s the best to use in ceilings open new wall cavities unfinished attic floors or other such hard to reach places. Basement walls require relatively low levels of insulation compared to other walls in cold climates. Insulation levels around r 10 are probably enough in most climates with the exception of cold and very cold climates where they should be increased to about r 20. The load bearing wall is generally sheathed in plywood to permit insulation to be installed from one side whereas the double wall system still.

While the purpose of insulation is to keep homes and business comfortable all year long it is considerably hotter in the phoenix arizona area so which insulation is best for hot continue reading best insulation for hot climates. One of the first was fiberglass insulation installed inside wall cavities before the need for vapour barriers was fully recognized. When you are insulating two by four 2x4 and two by six 2x6 framed exterior walls and want to use fiberglass insulation what thickness is best the question becomes all more critical because of the permanent nature of wall assemblies and wall insulation. One that is load bearing and a second wall that is not.

Old houses often have no building wrap or the wrap is 100 year old felt or kraft paper that has begun to degrade. Spray foam insulation though it costs more than batt insulation spray foam insulation has a much higher r value 3 5 to 6 5 per inch. Recommended basement wall insulation for hot moderate and cold climates.