Types of Insulation

Form	Method of Installation	Where Applicable	Advantages
Blankets: Batts or Rolls Fitted between studs, joists and beams All unfinished walls, floors and ceilings Do-it-yourself      Fiber glass Suited for standard stud and joist spacing, which is relatively free from obstructions      Rock wool
Loose-fill (poured in) Fitted between studs, joists And beams All unfinished walls, floors and ceilings Not currently used for home insulation but may be found in older homes      Vermiculite or Perlite
Loose-fill (blown-in) Blown into place or spray applied by special equipment Enclosed existing wall cavities or open new wall cavities Unfinished attic floors and hard to reach places Commonly used insulation for retrofits (adding insulation to existing finished areas) Spray-applied      Rock wool      Fiber glass      Cellulose      Polyurethane foam
Rigid Insulation Interior applications: Must be covered with ½-inch gypsum board or other building-code approved material for fire safety Exterior applications: Must be covered with weather-proof facing Basement walls Exterior walls under Finishing - (Some foam boards include a foil facing which will act as a vapor barrier. Follow the manufacturer's instructions as to where to place or not place a vapor barrier) Unvented low slope roofs High insulating value for relatively Little thickness Can block thermal short circuits when installed continuously over frames or joists      Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS)      Expanded polystyrene Foam (EPS or beadboard)      Polyurethane foam       Polyisocyanurate foam
Reflective systems Foils, films or papers: fitted between wood-frame studs, joists and beams Unfinished ceilings, walls and floors Do-it-yourself All suitable for framing at standard spacing. Bubble-form suitable when framing is irregular or if obstructions exist Effectiveness depends on spacing and heat flow direction      Foil-faced paper      Foil-faced polyethylene      Bubbles       Foil-faced plastic film      Foil-faced cardboard

Source U.S. Department of Energy

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