Everything you need to know about home insulation

Did you know that insulation is one of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient? In fact, it can save you up to 30% on your energy bills. If you’re thinking about adding insulation to your home, or if you’re just curious about what it is and how it works, read on. We’ll explain everything you need to know about home insulation.

Why use uPVC window frames and doors?

The advantages of using uPVC window frames and doors are many. They can also be easily cleaned without having to worry about stains or dirt getting stuck in the panes! If you’re looking for an investment that will last forever then these should definitely come into consideration when making your final decision on what type goes best with your house style and needs.

Insulation

Energy efficiency is one of the top advantages of uPVC window frames and doors. That’s because uPVC is a low conductor of heat, which means, when fitted correctly, it will form a closed air system, thus minimising the heat loss experienced by non-insulating materials.

Soundrproofing

The best thing about UPVC windows and doors are their noise reducing properties. These materials work in combination with double glazed paneling to help decrease outside sounds passing through your home by up 50%.

Weather Resistant

UPVC windows and doors are a great choice for those who want their property to last longer than natural materials such as wood. They don’t react with water or air, meaning that these exterior installations will never have an issue of weathering-they can withstand anything!

Ventilation

UPVC windows are a great way to provide ventilation in your home. They come with different styles and configuration options that allow you more control over how much air comes into each room, as well as where it goes when outside noise becomes distracting or hot inside without having any drafty spots on open floors near doors leading out from rooms

Fire Retardant

In order to protect your home from fire, all the frames and windows must be made out of materials that are rated for protection. One such material is uPVC, which meets these standards as it can withstand an estimated 30 minutes exposure to external flame before doing damage.

Aluminium vs. uPVC

Let’s talk about aluminium roofs. These are quite popular in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region at large due to the fact that they’re readily available and they can be purchased cheaply. However, aluminium is not great when it comes to energy efficiency. For instance, aluminum has a U value–the measurement of thermal transmittance or the rate of transfer of heat through matter.of–between 2 and 6. Now, compare that to uPVC which has a U value of between 1.3 and 1.9.

The importance of roof insulation

Insulating your roof will save you money every year. Around 30% of a building’s heat loss happens in the roofing. When an efficient insulation system is properly installed, you’ll end up saving both energy and money. Therefore, you can reduce the usage of heating and air conditioning. Insulation reduces the amount of energy needed for your home.

On top of that, efficient insulation reduces CO2 emissions which aids in combating air pollution.

There are two types of roof insulation:

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Warm insulation

This type of roof insulation is placed directly under the roof. It’s designed to reduce heat losses, preventing your home from being excessively hot in the summer or cold in the winter.

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Cold insulation

This type of insulation can be quite inexpensive. It is placed above the ceiling of the topmost floor.

Two important factors to consider with home insulation

There are two important components of home insulation that you should consider: air filtration and what’s calledSolar Heat Gain Control (SHGC). Let’s take a deeper look at these two home insulation features.

Air Filtration

In the context of home insulation, “air filtration” refers to how much the air gets through. This is not specifically referring to the use of a standard air duct filter, but rather having the ability to control how much air passes through.

The insulation needs to “breathe” to do its job, so there must be a flow of air to the outside surfaces of the insulation. Insulation also needs to be sealed off on the inside surfaces. Walls or ceilings should be lined with a vapor barrier, a layer of a watertight material. Insulation is technically a solid with a lot of air in it therefore, it is not an air gap. You must have nothing in the air gap except air itself. So, if you’re installing under a roof or in a wall, you must create an air gap.

SHGC

Solar Heat Gain Control refers to how much of the sun gets through.

SHGC and U-factor can be decreased in the glass component of a window assembly in multiple ways: Low-emissivity (low-e) coatings can reduce the ultraviolet and infrared light that passes through the glass, limiting heat gain while preserving visible light transmission.

What is a “passive house”?

The Passive House standard, developed in Germany in the 1990s, is used throughout the world and meets thermal comfort with minimal heating and cooling by using insulation, airtightness, appropriate window and door design, ventilation systems with heat recovery, and elimination of thermal bridges. The Passive House Institute administers a certification scheme that allows a building to be called a Certified Passive House once it has met certain performance standards. The passive house uses many of the same principles as passive design.

Passive House certification is an international standard that provides the most energy-efficient building technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. There are three levels of Passive Houses: Classic, Plus and Premium which differ based on how much efficiency they need to achieve their goal.

Classic does not require installation of renewable energies.

Plus needs them for maximum performance.

Source: Passive House Institute

Premium requires even more effort in order to make up for lost power from consumer electronics like computers or lights with solar panels installed onto its roof!

Source: Passive House Institute

The right amount of insulation is needed to control heat loss and gain. Depending on where in Australia you live, the Passive House standard may be similar or only slightly greater than what’s required by National Construction Code for buildings with similar characteristics; this includes needing a continuous layer around your home that goes beneath concrete slabs as well at perimeter spots like window sills.

The Passive House must be airtight to control water vapour transfer and the internal quality. This prevents uncontrolled infiltration through walls, roof or floor which can draw pollutants inside houses, causing moisture damage .

The Passive House was originally designed to be an airtight building that requires ventilation. While it can naturally vent, most people will need some sort of mechanical system with heat recovery in order for the space not feel stuffy or too warm during cold months when windows are closed and there’s no outdoor airflow coming into a room through which you could breath easily without opening them up at night time (for example winter nights).

Conclusion

uPVC insulation is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. In fact, when coupled with uPVC window frames and doors, it can be even more effective in keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.

If you’re interested in learning more about how uPVC insulation can benefit you, reach out to our experts! We would be happy to discuss the options available and help you choose the best solution for your needs. Thanks for reading!