Types of Insulation

RBC Insulation offers all of the insulation types listed on this page. We will be glad to discuss any of these with you if you have questions.

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation is an alternative to traditional building insulation such as fiberglass. A two-component mixture composed of isocyanate and polyol resin comes together at the tip of a gun, and forms an expanding foam that is sprayed onto roof tiles, concrete slabs, into wall cavities, or through holes drilled in into a cavity of a finished wall. Spray Foam insulation is becoming a more practical and cost-effective way to insulate your new or old home.
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SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass is a type of fiber primarily composed of glass that is used in a wide variety of applications, and is predominantly employed as a residential and commercial thermal insulator. Fiberglass is also used to create products as varied as automobile bodies, boat hulls, arrows, roofing, shower curtains, and tent poles. As an insulator, it slows the spread of heat, cold and sound in structures, cars and aircraft. By trapping pockets of air, it keeps rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer and thereby serves as a convenient method to increase energy efficiency. Fiberglass is an attractive choice for home insulation because it poses no fire hazard. According to some estimates, thermal insulation (made from fiberglass and its alternatives) conserves 12 times as much energy as is lost in its production, and it may reduce residential energy costs by up to 40%.


FIBERGLASS BATTING INSULATION

Cellulose Insulation

There are several different types of cellulose insulation, but the most common type that homeowners will encounter is called loose fill. Pellets of cellulose are blown into attics or walls (with holes drilled to permit access) and allowed to fill the cavities. No pressure is placed on the cellulose, though this is also a method of dense-packing the cellulose that will raise the R-value of the insulation. read more
CELLULOSE LOOSE INSULATION

Blown-In Insulation

Blown-in insulation, or blow in insulation, products are competing to bring improved performance per square inch and the least amount of settling over time to the insulation market. Blown-in insulation refers to blowing or spraying insulation product into wall cavities, attics, and floors. Methods vary depending on the form of insulation selected.

Loose-Fill Fiberglass
In its loose-fill form, fiberglass is made from glass that is blown or spun into fibers. It is installed using a blowing machine. Loose-fill fiberglass is suitable for attics and wall cavities and can combat common insulation enemies like mildew, fungus, and moisture.

Blow-in cellulose insulation has been around since the 1920′s and consists predominantly of recovered or recycled newsprint and/or corrugated cardboard, treated with a fire retardant.
Three main types of blow-in cellulose insulation are used in residential application: loose fill, stabilized, and wall-cavity spray. read more


BLOWN-IN INSULATION

Rigid Insulation

There are different types of rigid foam insulation, but all rigid foam insulation has certain advantages and limitations. Fiberglass and cellulose insulation can't stop air movement, but rigid foam can. Unlike batt and blown insulation, it won't blow or shift out of place once it's installed.

  • Polyisocyanurate (polyiso for short) foam has the highest R-value per inch (R-6.5 to R-6.8) of any rigid insulation. This type of rigid foam usually comes with a reflective foil facing on both sides, so it can also serve as a radiant barrier in some applications. Polyiso board is more expensive than other types of rigid foam.
  • Extruded polystyrene (XPS) rigid foam is usually blue or pink in color, with a smooth plastic surface. XPS panels typically aren't faced with other material. The R-value is about 5 per in. This type of rigid foam won't absorb water like polyiso and is stronger and more durable than expanded polystyrene, so it's probably the most versatile type of rigid foam. XPS falls between polyiso and expanded polystyrene in price.
  • Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is the least-expensive type of rigid foam and has the lowest R-value (around R-3.8 per in.). It's also more easily damaged than the other types of rigid foam.

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RIGID INSULATION BOARD