What You Should Look For In An Insulation Material   by Russell Strider

in Home    (submitted 2011-08-03)

There's increasing pressure every day to effectively insulate your home. From a wish to save cash on heating bills to concerns for the environment, there is lots of motivation to more effectively insulate a building's walls, roof and floor.

What exactly should you seek out in an insulation material? Well, the following are just a few factors that will need to be taken into account when you are making a choice:

- Price: How much is the insulation likely to cost both for the short and long term?
- Quality: How well will the insulation perform throughout its total life cycle?
- Climate: How will your choice of insulation effect our environment?

With all of these factors in mind, which insulation material ticks all of the boxes? Well, there is one insulation material in particular that is quickly increasing in recognition (and for great reason), this being expanded polystyrene.

As well as protecting costly electrical items in the post, expanded polystyrene (also known as EPS), is put to use in the foundations of bridges, floating pontoons and also railway embankments. And when utilized in insulation, it truly comes into its own.

But what makes it such a fantastic choice for home insulation?

- Performance: Probably most significantly for the typical homeowner, it provides impressive insulation values and provides guaranteed consistent efficiency while a building is standing. In the end, let's not forget that EPS is 98% air, and air is of course an exceptional insulator in its own right.

- Value: Usually up to a fifth cheaper than various other insulation materials, EPS can even help you save money on its installation because of less being required in such applications as floor construction.

- Ease of use: Whether moulded before delivery or cut to install into place on site, EPS has good flexibility and is particularly uncomplicated to fit into even the most challenging insulation space.

- A wide range of other built in advantages: EPS is rot-proof, rodent-proof and resistant to fungi. Additionally it has exceptional water resistance meaning that it can be used in particularly damp areas.

- Finally and perhaps the most surprising quality of EPS: It is a terrific choice of insulation in terms of the natural environment. Having an A+ rating in the BRE green guide, coupled with its ease of recycling, long-term durability and excellent performance characteristics, EPS can play a crucial part in slowing down climate change.

So, coming back to the driving issues for insulating a house and when we're still seeking to reduce our bills even while cutting down carbon use, it is difficult to conclude that expanded polystyrene is anything other than the most effective insulation choice on the market.

In short, save money while saving the natural environment - choose EPS today.

About the Author

Find out more about choosing the best insulation for a wide range of uses, including construction, civil engineering, and ground engineering, at Jablite.