The material used to insulate something, especially a building or pipes. There are many types of insulation, but the most common are batt, wrap, blown-in and foam insulation. Insulation can be made from various materials such as asbestos, fiberglass, cellulose, foam, expanding foam and more. Insulation will be named by the style, location or what it is made of.
For more information on asbestos insulation, see asbestos.
Fiberglass is a type of plastic that is made from tiny strands of glass, called “fibers.” Fiberglass can be arranged into a sheet, arranged randomly or woven into fabric. It is extremely strong, lightweight and flexible. When used for insulation, it is arranged randomly and can sometimes be mixed with glue.
Cellulose is the fiber from plants. It is soft and mainly used for making paper. In construction, it is used for insulation.
Foam is formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid. Soap bubbles are a type of foam. Foam can be made into hard materials used for insulating.
Batt insulation (also known as blanket or roll) has been cut into flat pieces and is most commonly used to insulate under floors and walls. It is usually made from fiberglass, but can also be made from cotton and sheep’s wool which you’ll normally find in older homes.
Underfloor batt insulation and ductwork insulation:
Batt insulation being installed in a wall:
Blown-in (cellulose) insulation in an attic and batt insulation in an attic:
Wrap insulation (or ductwork insulation) has been cut into flat pieces that is thinner than batt insulation normally is and is used to wrap HVAC ductwork or water pipes. It normally comes in fiberglass and is sometimes wrapped in a metallic or plastic covering to protect it from moisture or tears.
Wrap insulation around flexible ducting with a metallic protective covering:
Ductwork insulation being installed around rigid ducting:
Blown-in insulation (also called loose-fill) is insulation made from fiberglass or cellulose that has been shredded into small pieces and is typically blown into an attic or walls using a hose attached to a large bag.
Installing blown-in (fiberglass) insulation over the top of batt insulation in an attic:
Blown-in insulation in an attic, around the HVAC system:
Foam board insulation (also known as rigid or continuous) is made of dense, hard foam and may be faced or laminated. Unlike fiberglass insulation found in most exterior walls, foam boards provide continuous protection from the elements and are used in more rugged environments in most cases.
A house being built, covered in foam board insulation:
Rigid insulation in a crawlspace:
Spray foam insulation is insulation sprayed onto a surface that expands and is typically cut to fit into a space. Foam insulation can be sprayed in attics, crawlspaces, walls and more. It is the most expensive and is considered the “best” insulation in some cases, and is the least common out of the above.
Spray foam insulation being installed in a wall:
Cutting spray foam insulation so it fits in the wall cavity before adding drywall:
