High-quality insulation is one of the best investments you can make for your home. Although you may balk at the price of better insulation, the money you'll save on your utility bills will quickly make the investment pay off. Insulation-quality ratings are based on what's called R-value, a measurement of the insulation's resistance to heat change. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. Because heat rises, the most important areas to insulate are the ceiling and roof. One of the more common insulation types is blown cellulose, typically blown to a depth of about 12" for an insulation value of R-30. In homes where the blown insulation is only 8" deep, it should be supplemented by an attic blanket (figure A), which consists of fiberglass batting wrapped in plastic for easier handling. Another way of supplementing your roof insulation is with a reflective material that can be attached to the underside of the roof (figure B) to reflect heat back into your home.
The most familiar insulation to most people is batting (figure C), which comes in various thicknesses and widths. The kraft paper on the back of the batting (figure D) creates a vapor barrier that helps protect your home from moisture damage.
Although you might expect fiberglass batting to be difficult to handle, it's fairly easy to work with. All you need is a fiberglass-batting cutter (figure E), which consists of a sharp utility knife with a special guard. To use the cutter, press the batting down with the guard so the blade can cut all the way through the material (figure F).
When you're working with insulation, wear safety glasses, breathing protection and gloves. Leave the insulation as loose as possible: if you compress it, you'll reduce its effectiveness. You might not think about insulating outlets and switches, but these small openings can cause a great deal of heat loss. You can insulate them with foam sealant (figure G) or a rubber insulator with cutouts to fit around the switch openings (figure H).
The bottoms of the walls could be a source of drafts in your house. To seal them, remove the base or shoe molding, and caulk along the gap between the wall and the floor.
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