Tips for Improving your Insulation Installation

Having good insulation which is properly installed makes a night and day difference. Not only does it help you get the most out of your home’s heating system and traps the air with better efficiency, but proper insulation is safer for your family and easy to install. For the first-time handyman, or for those new to D.I.Y., we’ve compiled some expert tips for improving your installation skills.

Make your Measurements Exact

When cutting the fiberglass batts for your insulation, you should never eyeball the widths. Attention to detail is important when installing and measuring your batts, as any small gap or compression is a chance for heat to escape and cold to enter your home. Do your best to measure and cut your batts to an exact fit. Adding in a quarter of an inch to your measurement may help pieces fit more firm and snugly. Additionally, you should use a strip of plywood or board as a straightedge for guiding your box or utility knife. Using plywood as a guide also keeps your blade from dulling on concrete.

Don’t Stuff or Jam your Fiberglass

One common mistake during insulation installation is being rough with your fiberglass batts. While they might look tough, jamming or stuffing these batts into wall sections that are too narrow to house them can create uninsulated air pockets inside the insulation itself. This causes it to hold less heat and lowers the overall temperature retention value of your insulation.

Use PPE and Protective Equipment

Working with fiberglass can be dangerous, particularly if it gets in the eyes or if you breathe it in. It’s recommended to protect your skin, eyes, and lungs by working with fiberglass batts. Wear a pair of disposable, plastic coveralls, as well as eye protection, gloves, a dust mask or respirator, a long-sleeved covering to protect your chest and arms, and a cap to keep fiberglass out of your hair. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so keep safe when installing your insulation!

Fill in All your Gaps

Another common spot for cold and hot air flow is gaps and cracks in windows and door frames. Consider using expanding foam or caulking foam to fill in these areas. By insulating these areas, you help trap the temperature of your room and boost the overall effectiveness of your insulation. Just be sure to use a type of foam that doesn’t expand much, as you don’t want to run the risk of warping a door jamb or window frame.

Cut Notches for Electrical Boxes

Another thing to be mindful of when installing your insulation batts is your electrical boxes, fuse boxes, or plugin outlets. You don’t want to cover these with your insulation batts, as these can start fires in the home Instead, take your batt and sketch a square section to be cut out in the shape and size of your electrical box. Then, utilize a box cutter or scissors to snip the area of your insulation. If you measured properly, it should be an easy fit.

Split your Insulation to Fit Cables and Pipes

Another common obstacle for your insulation will be the wiring and pipes installed in your walls. Split apart your batts in order for them to fit around the wires in the walls and the pipes in order to fully insulate your home. Additionally, some fiberglass batts have a weave that you can tear open to insulate your electrical cabling. 

Don’t Stuff your Fiberglass Behind Pipes or Cables

Another installation mistake is to put your batts behind pipes or cables in your walls. Not only does compressing the fiberglass damage it and create the risk of air pockets, but it can create gaps between the insulation and drywall. If the insulation is raised from being pressed by cables, air can escape through the bottom of the batt.

Plug Holes in your Woodworking

In the top and bottom wood plates of your home, where your pipes and wiring are most likely to run through the woodworking of your home; you’ll need to plug these holes and gaps utilizing an expanding spray foam. We might repeat this point a lot, but even the smallest gaps can create pathways for arms to leak out; which wastes your energy and money.

If Possible, Don’t Use Paper Faced Insulation

While paper-faced insulation is often seen as easier and preferable to traditional insulation batts; it can be difficult to fit into smaller, more narrow areas. Additionally, it’s harder to cut batts to fit with the paper covers, and a tight fit with paper-faced batts is difficult as the paper covered can prevent a solid adhesion from occurring.

Utilize Friction-Fit Batts

Using friction-fit batts is a great way to make insulation easy. Simply seal your walls with a four-millimeter poly vapor seal, then fit your batts into the gaps and holes with either sealant or caulk. This provides an air-tight installation of your insulation, completely eliminating the risk of gaps and improper airflow.