Why Insulate?

Although insulation is an important part of every building, it is often the least understood. Many people aren’t aware of the many places that energy is lost in a home. As an Owens Corning® Certified Energy Expert® professional, Marshall’s Insulation understands the science behind the building envelope. So, you can turn to us to learn more about the benefits of insulation.

Benefits of Insulation

Insulation lays a foundation of energy efficiency for residential, commercial, and industrial structures. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy and reduce monthly heating and cooling costs. Whether you are remodeling a home or building a new business, there are many benefits of insulation.

Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

Insulation reduces heating and cooling costs by minimizing the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of your home, maintaining a consistent indoor temperature and decreasing the demand on your HVAC system.
Improve Indoor Air Quality

Insulation helps improve indoor air quality by reducing drafts and enhancing temperature stability, which minimizes the infiltration of outdoor pollutants and allergens.
Enhance Home Energy Efficiency

Insulation enhances home energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer, which helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature and decreases the need for heating and cooling systems to work overtime.
Create a Quieter Home

Insulation enhances home energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer, which helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature and decreases the need for heating and cooling systems to work overtime.
Stay Comfortable Year Round

Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a consistent indoor temperature in Oregon, helping to keep homes warm during the chilly winters and cool during the warm summers, ensuring year-round comfort.
Air Sealing

Air sealing enhances the effectiveness of insulation by reducing air leaks, which helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures and improves energy efficiency.

How Insulation Works

Heat flows from higher temperature areas to lower temperature areas, creating temperature fluctuation within a space. Insulation wraps your home in a protective blanket, reducing heat flow to keep the heat out during warmer months and the heat in during cooler months. Insulation is an excellent noise absorber and helps to reduce sound transmission from both outside and within a home, creating a quieter space with less reverberation. Insulation also allows other energy-efficient components, such as air sealing, to do their job, forming a comprehensive insulating system that helps maintain consistent temperatures and moisture levels, reduce energy usage and increase monthly energy savings.

What Is R-Value?

The “R” in R-value stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the level of resistance and the greater the insulating power. R-value requirements vary depending on climate and building type.

Here is an example of how R-value relates to the amount of insulation used in a typical attic. The thicknesses listed are for Owens Corning® PROPINK® L77 PINK® FiberglassTM Unbonded Loosefill Insulation blown in the attic and not a general rule of thumb for any other brand/type of insulation in any other areas/applications. We can provide you the correct amount of insulation for your project.

R-Value

R-13

R-19

R-22

R-26

R-30

R-38

R-44

R-49

R-60

Minimum Thickness (in)

4.75

7.00

8.00

9.25

10.50

13.25

15.00

16.75

20.00

Where to Insulate

Think doors and windows are at the top of your heat’s escape plan? Think again! Walls, ceilings, floors, and ducts can account for 90% of heat loss if not properly insulated.

Insulation should be installed in the walls, floors, attic space, basement, and crawlspace. A more detailed list includes:

● Ceilings with unheated spaces above, including dormer ceilings

● Knee walls of attic spaces finished as living areas

● Sloped walls and ceilings of attics finished as living areas

● Cathedral or vaulted ceilings

● Around perimeters of slabs

● Floors above vented crawl spaces

● Floors over unheated or open spaces such as over garages or porches

● Basement walls

● Band and header joists

● Interior walls, ceilings, or floors where extra sound control is needed

● Floors over unconditioned basements

How Much Insulation Is Enough?

The amount of insulation needed varies depending on location, building type and materials. You can review the recommended R-Value levels chart from ENERGY STAR or ask one of our Energy Experts. Rest assured, we will work with you to provide the right insulation estimate for your specifications.

R-Value Recommendation From Energy Star

Things to Consider When Insulating

● What type of insulation is being used?

● Does the insulation meet or exceed local building codes and national recommended insulation levels?

● How effective is the insulation (thermal performance, acoustical performance)?

● Is the insulation resistant to moisture, fire, and settling?

● Is the insulation material safe and sustainable?

● Is the insulation cost-effective?

Your House as a System

Though insulation is one of the most essential and cost-effective ways to create overall efficiency, there are many factors to take into consideration. Insulation and air sealing combined with energy-efficient appliances, windows, doors, lighting, and HVAC equipment build a whole-house efficiency system that will prove beneficial throughout the year and for years to come. We can provide an in-home consultation to help you create a plan to address any energy concerns in your household.

If you still have questions, we have answers! See our Insulation FAQs page and contact us today to learn more about the benefits of insulation.