HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-10-28, Page 46e might AS Welt forget
trAring.' t
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j can' do its So let's keep
in ere s veer+ it will
de rite rnos+t soft. home ceiling'.
Aa, ,on a solation This has a s ng"
y I d i made Insulation �
AE hoT[4e it The iS !I!R YipSei^ pBtFna9, ••�,, •"•"••,•,t •••,
home
e i ,fit Vapor 'barrier WRY of retrofitting instil Rtio!n
basic s�IP+�
4jd;B$O�".thC���? �!�':� 6 . ........, .n..st i� �aeelied t0 in olden homes. SCG
_.mss.:__.. n�.a s..F►
Sides
of the ham? If X
o onthe
, sulation., �, bal~t and so one �!� �� apl�h+�d �►► in older homes. See a local
nee �n�ul'�ti� .-� � � fid ��� rotect ahe ensu
Wake e . (2.) .oM4 3moisture.:. .a
house is rigid foa xt plast c, (4)(,
poorlyinsulated4'0
oaed*in-piacepiaio. eat apply
usually uncomfortable. � to
Lt
tionfrom insulation contractor Apr
+ ll more details.
0(ten Vapor harriers are an
ting, essential part of the. in -
the "cold wail" (I) Batt sand ..blanket in used to :-in at a e. an
?l zofesslonsl solation story. Insulation a
ad this: sit- elft. The iaslde surface, of must be
s vet" n s �► ... well: may ... �, ct�r
t s a wa Ce g or � floor
a e the warm
side of ainsulation. Without
it, moisture from the house
air will enter..the insulation.
condense and cause serious
damage.
Some insulation is sold with
an attached vapor barrier.
Others require a separate
application. Here are some
common vapor barrier
materials:
Polyethylene film.
aluminum foil, aluminum,
paint, varnish and rubber
base paints, and urethanes.
The recommended in-
sulation levels for Canadian
homes have been rising
through the years, reflecting
increased heating costs and
concern for energy con-
servation. The precise level
of insulation which can be
justified on economic
grounds (cost of insulation vs.
fuel saving) varies with
climate, fuel costs, insulation
prices and other factors. It is
possible, however, to
recommend one set of
minimum insulation levels
which are generally ap-
plicable across the country.
The recommended levels
for existing and new housing
will differ because current
construction practices often
limit the amount of insulation
that can be added. However.
innovative construction
techniques will allow higher
levels for new housing in the
future.
The building codes for new
homes are presently being re-
evaluated and updated to
meet today's energy cir-
cumstances. New con-
struction techniques, such as
6 -inch wall studs and exterior
insulation, are being con-
sidered to make new houses
suitable for the energy pinch
ahead. Even solar heating
systems are being developed
and tested.
When you buy or build a
new house. be sure it has the
maximum amount of in-
sulation possible: You might
want to look into 6 -inch studs
be foamed -in-place in wall W permit more insulation its
cavities, They should. be the walls, and consider built -
contractor
by `" a professional in basement insulation. Your
contractor with the proper new home should at least
equipment. meet the insulation levels
If a Law flammability foam recommended above. The
such as unreaforrnaldehyde ' money you invest hi ext
is chosen, or if proper insulation now will more than
protective -- measures are repay itself in the years
taken, this can be an effective ahead.
lent at you'll di that ul ted may' be wooly texture an s u' .
ou firom; :$. to is Fahrenheit from fiibr of glass, rock or use it as a blot in type for protected by a vapo barrier
IS
u�s�alilog o�c�ad�ing,a��t� ....
de rees . (4 to Celsius slag. It . the Most. common the wall cavities, of existingapplied a (heated)
neither +��� �+" �`' �
t i c u l a r l;` .. expensive. der and ra abl f .drilled in
#&
... '!° .,, ... � � e��. eniiti.Vew ��� voider t� the � '1? „�!►Y�1�"lJiy clip" ��, homes. Holes the
waU
Insulation. nse +c heating same Walt with insulation. If Your attfcright noW, each stud space
energy which in twit saves Mere sitting -near the wall, The batts are sold in pre- and the insulation is blown in
your may' heat Will (low �► �
bundles', in using a compressor. The
you, money.8-foot lengths.They vary holes are then sealed.)
Two Y things happen when towards+ the coaly surfacethickness
insulation added to your and you'll soon begin to feel from 2 to 6 inches in thi Loose fill is manufactured
time, as and come in standard widths from glass, rock* slag,
new orto fit snugly between
existing Itt►me, First, chilly. At the same —
and most important, you� save warm. air meets the cool wall uniform centre ceiling joists, pulverized paper or expanded
energy becauseyou use rens ' it becomes more dense and mica. The expanded mica
fuel for heating.Secoindly, sinks towards the floor. This s Blanket insulation zonolite or vermiculite)
strapping.
is sold m type
you feel warmer andmore displaces warm floor air rolls of varying lengths, can be used* in block -type
comfortable. which rises. The result can be widths and thicknesses. walls in new construction,
From the moment heat is uncomfortable drafts. Both are sold with or where the material is poured
generated, it tries to escape Many of us turn up the directly into the block cores.
into the colder air outside. It thermostat, blaming a chilly without an attached vapor (3) Rigid foam plastic
vanishes through the ceiling feeling on the furnace or the barrier. This barrier is a
insulation. iB 1 d
and walls, sneaks out round weather. The real problem is protective coating in one side polyurethane and polystyrene
windows and doors. The rate often a lack of good insulation of the insulation -- using wax,
insulation are sold in panels
of escape depends on the and weather protection. tarred kraft paper, aluminum of different sizes and
difference between the inside Years ago we' assumed that fail or plastic -- to guard
�, g -tltiekness, They offer $eueraL,
and outside temperatures, the best nczeasure of insulation against moisture damage advantages; high insulation
and on the resistance it was thickness. Times and which would reduce the in-
value with minimum
meets. Insulation is the key products have changed. This sulation's effectiveness. thickness and weight rigidy,
barrier that traps and holds rule -of -thumb is no Longer (Vapor barriers and their sound absorption, vapor
heat inside. reliable, uses are discussed again barrier.
A thorough re -insulation Insulation is now further on.)
job can cut your , annual manufactured and sold by Batts or blankets are used
heating bill by as much as 50 "resistance value" (called to insulate frame or brick
percent. A more modest the "R" value) -- a precise houses s -- in walls, over
improvement to your. -its- measurement of the in- ceilings, under floors, in
sulation can save you 20 to 30 sulation' s resistance to heat crawl spaces and garages.
percent annually. So if your transfer. The higher the They can be used on poured
bill is now $300,a 30. percent resistance value, the less heat walls where framing has been
saving could reduceconcree and block basement
it to 5210. will escape through'the in-
The cost of insulating all or sulating material. applied.
part of a house is usually paid One brand of insulation (4. Loose -fill insulation.
for in S yearror less, through may be thicker or thinner Loose -fill insulation is sold by
lower annual heating costs. thananother, but if they both the bag and may be in pellets.
A quuicleway to find out if show the same R value, fibrous or granular form.
your; house needs extra in- they'll perform equally well. When properly used, it leaves
sulation is to take a Iook The R value is stamped in few air gaps or pockets and
outside. On a dull day, is the large letters on the cover of forms an effective heat
snow melting on the roof? If packaged insulation. If it isn't barrier. in wall cavities,
so, you don't . have enough there, check with your dealer however, it may settle over
insulation in the attic. Is snow who should know the value, the years and leave a poorly
V disappearing from around the. You can choose from four i insulated gap at the top.
• Imagist a code Inkniingin as ria Oa. In time„ the inside
becomes black -:.» casae+) wig : ► t i t► g+orad is ltttor, heat**
the iasld e•.f the ca* is mune thing
bad inside row farts . ees'Ike wp d ! *t g.l` Up the
ddnuhey issteaul off 1st. r furnace
takes'abaiti as lhoor old ea t SII by 511 cam.
Polyurethane and
polystyrene foamed plastics
are now recognized as severe
fire hazards when used its
exposed or semi -exposed.
applications. As now
manufactured. they not only
contribute to flame spread,
but produce explosive and
poisonous gases under fire
conditions. They should not
be used in applications which
might expose them to open
flame inside a building.
Foam plastic insulation can
still be used under these
conditions:
(a) inside, if covered by 34"
plaster or %" gypsum board,
(b) on the outside of con-
crete, masonry or wood
frame walls,
(c) inside masonry cavity
walls, suitably fire -stopped.
(d) under concrete floor
slabs,
(e) as roof insulation ap-
plied above structural deck.
(4) Foamed -in-place plastic
insulation. There are several
brands of foam insulation,
such_ as urea -formaldehyde
and polyurethane. which can
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