A home cannot have too much insulation
R-38 is insufficient for your home in the Ozarks. At Mi-Repair we strongly encourage you reach R-50 to R60.
All insulation has an R-value assigned to it. R stands for resistance. It indicates how easily heat can move through the material. Higher R values equate to less energy costs.
There are several types of insulation. They all work to varying degrees, but they are all not appropriate in all applications. Lately, many installers have been using a product in homes that is destroying them. Here’s a general overview:
Spray on Foam Insulation
Spray foam comes in two varieties: Open cell and Closed Cell.
Open Cell is soft, somewhat ‘mushy’ to the touch.
R value = 3.8 per inch.
Closed cell spray foam is a denser product and is hard to the touch.
R value = 7 per inch.
Both products appear similar, but they perform very different. Open cell is a very economical product. Closed cell is highly expensive. Closed cell achieves a much higher resistance to heat transfer where space is limited.
Recent industry developments reveal complications where sprayed foam insulation negatively impacts the value of homes. Mi-Repair does not install, nor usually recommend spray foam insulation for residences.
Cellulose: The Time Proven, Eco-Friendly Insulation Product
Cellulose is a recycled product – usually paper. It’s treated to be fire resistant, and to discourage pests. Cellulose has an R value between 3.2 and 3.8 per inch. It is blown in, and if the job is small enough many homeowners can do it themselves.
Cellulose is sound deadening, and unlike fiberglass, pests don’t find it very useful for building their nests. The only thing we don’t like about cellulose is how dusty it can be to install.
Cellulose can be installed over the top of both fiberglass and other forms of insulation. The product is made of 70% recycled material – and that makes us at Mi-Repair very happy. If you suspect your home needs more insulation, just call 417-396-1600.