House insulation buying guide

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Home insulation can be a cost-effective solution to keeping costs down and your home comfortable all year round.

Home insulation works by restricting heat flowing in and out of your house, helping to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter. In this article, Canstar Blue explores the different types of house insulation.

What is house insulation?

House insulation is a type of material that slows or prevents the flow of heat in or out of a building. It is often used in ceilings, walls and floors to help minimise the need for excessive heating or cooling. A variety of materials can be used as insulation such as wool, polyester, foam boards, fibreglass and cardboard.

What are the types of home insulation?

There are two main types of home insulation in Australia: bulk insulation and reflective insulation.

What is bulk insulation? 

Bulk insulation works by trapping air inside tiny bubbles which help resist the flow of heat in and out of your home. It can come in rolls, boards and batts (a large rectangle of insulation). Bulk insulation is produced from a variety of materials such as glass wool, polyester, cellulose fibre and recycled paper and is the most common type of insulation on the market.

What is reflective insulation? 

Reflective insulation works by deflecting radiant heat, making it suitable for hot and sunny climates. It’s essentially a layer of aluminium foil laminated onto paper or plastic. It can either be installed independently within walls or just below the roof. It can also be attached to bulk insulation for effective ‘hybrid insulation’.

What is composite insulation?

Composite insulation combines bulk and reflective insulation, meaning you get the benefits of both types.

What is spray insulation?

Another option known as ‘spray insulation’ may also be available. This is applied by spraying a solution in the ceiling, floor or walls that bubbles into a thick layer of insulation.

What are the benefits of home insulation?

House insulation has a myriad of benefits, which is largely why this practical home climate solution has become the standard for new households. Mainly, it helps to:

• Improve home comfort: Insulation balances your home’s temperature to a comfortable climate year round.
• Reduce energy costs: House insulation reduces the strain on your air conditioner or heater by helping keep the cool or warm air in. This means your appliances use less energy.
• Reduce noise pollution: Some types of insulation can help soundproof your home.

However, home insulation can be expensive. Depending on the size of your home, type of insulation and the costs of your installation company, installing insulation can set you back quite a bit.

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What is the best insulation for roofs in Australia?

The best material and type of insulation to use in your home depends on your preferences, the climate in your area, as well as your budget. You’ll want to consider the insulation product’s R value (more on this below), and how that relates to the usual climate in your location. 

A home insulation installer can advise you on the type of roof insulation that will work best for your house.

What is the best insulation for walls in Australia?

As with ceiling insulation, you’ll want to research and weigh up the pros, cons of costs of wall insulation options before you decide. Home insulation specialists can help you narrow down the right product and material to use in your home and climate.

For reference, some materials commonly used in wall and roof insulation in Australia include:

• Fibreglass
• Polyester
• Glasswool
• Rigid foam
• Mineral wool or rock wool
• Spray foam

What is an insulation R-Value?

The R-Value is the measurement used for an insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. It’s calculated based on the insulation product’s thickness, as well as its thermal conductivity. The higher a product’s’s R-Value, the better it is at insulating your home.

There are three types of insulation R-Values to be mindful of:

• ‘Up’ R-Value: Measures insulation’s resistance to heat flow out of the house. This is also known as a ‘winter’ R-Value because you want a high Up R-Value in winter to keep the heat in.
• ‘Down’ R-Value: Measures insulation’s resistance to heat flow into the house. This is also known as a ‘summer’ R-Value because you want a high Down R-Value in summer to keep the heat out.
• Total R-Value: A combination of the Up and Down R-Values.

The level of insulation required for any one property will differ depending on the climate, building type and types of heating and cooling appliances or devices to be used in the dwelling.

You do, however, have to meet the minimum requirements for R-Values when building new properties as outlined by the National Construction Code (NCC) and the New South Wales Government’s Building Sustainability Index (BASIX).

Building a new property? See what other minimum energy efficiency requirements you may need with Canstar Blue’s guide to NatHERS Ratings in Australia.

How to install home insulation

While you may be allowed to install some types of installation by yourself in a few states and territories, it is best to enlist help from a licensed professional.

A licensed professional can help to ensure you are using quality products and installing insulation safely and in accordance with the minimum requirements outlined by the NCC and BASIX.

Which companies install insulation in Australia?

There are a few brands in Australia that install insulation products. Some of these include:

• Affordable Insulation
• Alpha Insulation
• Amelior Insulation
• Enviroflex
• Fletcher Insulation
• Higgins Insulation
• Insulation Easy Australia
• Pricewise Insulation
• Pro-Fit Insulation
• Termico Insulation Services

Please note, some of these insulation installers may only work in select states and territories. Other installers may also be available in your area.

Affordable house insulation methods

If you can’t afford to fully insulate your home just yet, there are some affordable ways to keep the cold out, including:

Double glazing

Around 40% of your home’s heat is lost through its windows, so installing double glazing is an effective way to minimise heat loss. Double glazed windows are made using two pieces of glass which are separated by an air gap. The air gap is filled with argon gas which traps warm air inside and prevents cool air from entering.

Cover windows

While double glazing can help to reduce heat loss, an easy way to improve your home insulation is by covering your windows with curtains or shutters. Both options will help to keep the hot air inside during winter and the cool air in during winter.

Make your home airtight

To prevent your air from leaking outside, or outside air creeping into your home, try making your home airtight. This can include patching cracks with putty and using sealant strips around windows and door frames. 

Should I install home insulation?

House insulation can potentially save hundreds of dollars on your energy bills, so if your home isn’t insulated and you use an air conditioner or heater, it’s likely that you’re wasting energy.

If you already have house insulation, it’s worth inspecting it annually to make sure it’s not sagged or damaged. Minor faults in your insulation can have an exponentially negative impact on its effectiveness.

If you’re concerned about the cost of cooling or heating your home, make sure your cooling system is properly cleaned and running correctly, or upgrade to a more energy efficient model if necessary. If you haven’t compared electricity plans in a while, it could also be the case that you’re paying too much for power to begin with. You can start comparing providers with Canstar Blue via our free energy comparison tool.

Original Author: Brendon O’Neill