Tag Archive: Insulation
Insulation Basics – Vapor Barriers
When you are thinking about installing insulation you also need to think about Vapour Barriers. Although I frequently saw mention of vapor barriers in books and articles it was a long time before I understood why there were needed……………. Here…
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Insulation Basics – ‘R’ and ‘U’ Value
R Value R1.5 Batts, R2.0 Batts……. all the way up to R6.0 Batts, but what does it all mean? The R value is a measure of the thermal resistance of the component of the material. In other word how hard…
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Understanding Ceiling Insulation
I frequently see comments like “Ceiling insulation is next to worthless in summer.” I have even heard people say “With a hot roof space it will be overwhelmed.” and “After the sun has gone off it stops the house cooling down.” Here…
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Condensation
Condensation, a minor inconvenience, or a major problem? A little condensation on windows is easily dealt with, . . . . . . but heavy condensation in poorly ventilated corners can lead to mould damaging your walls, ceilings, or even…
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Insulation Basics – Ceiling Insulation
Without effective insulation more heat is lost through the roof than either the walls or floor. There are a range of options for insulating your new home roof with some insulation materials having different effects in summer and winter. Here…
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Reducing External Noise
It’s not always possible to build in a quiet area so there are a number of techniques for reducing noise that you can use in your new home. Here is a quick review of the options: Minimising windows facing…
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Slab Insulation
I have previously posted about the relatively small heat loss from a slab on ground But what if you have got in slab heating, or just want to minimise heat loss/gain from your house? Before Construction This sketch shows the placement of…
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Insulation – Heat loss Suspended Timber Floor
I have previously posted about the Heat Loss from a Slab Floor so how does that compare with a suspended timber, or particle board, floor? Well its not as bad as you might think because the the space under the…
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Insulation – Heat Loss Slab On Ground
Why is there less fuss about insulation under a concrete raft slab than ceilings and walls?…………well here are a few interesting facts: A thick layer of earth provides a reasonable amount of insulation. The soil contributes to the thermal mass of…
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Green Roof
How would you like to be mowing the roof of this house? This is a ‘Green Roof’ something which is quite common in many Northern Hemisphere Countries but not so common in Australia. They can work well in keeping a…
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