Insulation Supplies 101
Thinking of getting your home insulated? Aside from determining your eligibility for the insulation rebate, there are some basic things you might want to know. Sure, the government has a register of approved insulation installers and they most likely know what your home needs, but it wouldn't hurt to know what they are talking about either. And, it's your house! So however qualified they are to give you advice, you still have the last say.
Here are just some points that are useful to recognise about insulation, particularly insulation components:
1) R-value. The performance or effectiveness of insulation is measured through R-value. The formula is quite simple - the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. Of course, the optimal R-value varies across different areas in Australia. Note, though, that the thickness of an insulation material is not directly proportional to its R-value. There are actually thin insulation materials with high R-values.
two) Climate/Location aspect. There are in fact eight distinct environment zones within Australia, just about every requiring a specific variety of insulation. The Constructing Code of Australia specifies minimum insulation needs for each and every region. Your insulation installer can tell you which zone you might be in, but it won't hurt to complete your own analysis.
3) Insulation categories. There are two umbrella categories of insulation: bulk insulation and reflective insulation. Bulk insulation normally blocks the flow of heat. Insulation materials that fall under this category are cellulose fibre, sheep wool, polyester, glasswool and rockwool. Reflective insulation, meanwhile, deflects heat by way of reflection. Typical types are aluminium foil sarking, foil boards, E-therm and foil batts.
So, if you happen to be availing of the cost-free insulation, understand up and be informed.
