Insulation FAQs Answered Thanks To Rhys Howard From Highlands Insulation
Who’s feeling the winter chill at the moment?
You’re probably feeling it a bit more than most if your Southern Highlands home doesn’t have enough insulation OR the right sort of insulation.
We spoke to Rhys Howard of Highlands Insulation, a fantastic local business that provides professional thermal, acoustic and fire protection services to the Southern Highlands.
What does all that mean for you and your home?
Safety, efficiency and lower heating [+a/c] bills!
Most households and businesses would have no doubt heard all about another year of energy price increases from energy providers.
Sounds like a VERY good reason to consider having the insulation and energy efficiency of your home or business assessed sooner rather than later.
So, this may help as a starting point for you.
Here’s some questions Rhys is often asked about insulation when he catches up with clients.
1 :: Does my home REALLY need insulation?
So, here’s an interesting fact lots of people don’t know.
The Southern Highlands is classified by the Australian Building Codes Board as climate zone 6, which oddly is the same as places like Parramatta and Jervis Bay.
Now, we all know our climate is more similar to Canberra and Goulburn, which is zone 7.
Why does this matter?
If your builder strictly follows the building code for climate zone 6, you may be installing inadequate insulation.
Just following the building code is why most homes in the Highlands are so poorly insulated.
We’ve been known to get snow in the Highlands but there is no requirement for a builder to build a more thermally efficient home here than they would on the beach in Jervis Bay.
Now with the rising cost of energy, it is becoming critical for these homes to have insulation retro-fitted and brought up to modern standards.
If your home is more than 20 years old, or in the process of being built or designed, you should have it checked to see if your insulation is adequate for our winters.
This could save you money and it means you can live comfortably in your home instead of feeling the cold so much.
2 :: How does insulation work?
It reduces the transfer of heat between two surfaces with different temperatures.
Heat is a form of energy that always flows from hotter to colder areas, and insulation helps to slow down this flow.
In cold weather, insulation helps to keep warm air inside and prevent it from escaping to the outside, while in hot weather, it helps to keep cool air inside and prevent warm air from entering.
This can help to reduce energy consumption and lower heating and cooling costs.
3 :: What is R-value?
The R-value represents the thermal resistance of the insulation, with a higher R-value indicating greater resistance to heat flow.
The higher the R-value, the better the insulation is at reducing heat transfer.
So, an insulation material with an R-value of 5 is more effective at resisting heat flow than one with an R-value of 2.
Building codes and energy efficiency standards often specify minimum R-values for different parts of a building, such as walls, roofs, and floors, to help make sure buildings are adequately insulated and energy efficient.
What R-value should you aim for in the Highlands?
- R1.8 roofing blanket
- R5 ceiling insulation
- R2.5 wall insulation
- R2.5 under-floor insulation.
Give us a call if you’re not sure and you want to have your insulation checked.
4 :: Why is insulation important? Do I really need it?
There’s quite a few reasons.
Many people would know that if insulation is installed correctly for the area they live in, less energy is needed to heat or cool the home, which can result in significant cost savings on energy bills.
It’s also good for the environment by lowering energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling.
And it reduces noise transmission between rooms and from outside, making a home more comfortable and quieter.
There’s also the risk of inadequate insulation leading to condensation and moisture problems, which can damage the building structure and lead to health issues such as mould growth.
We spend a lot of time in our homes so making it an efficient and comfortable place to be is really important.
5 :: My floors are cold – would insulation help?
If your home is raised on piers, under-floor insulation can go a long way to giving you a warm feeling floor.
On a typical winter night, a hardwood floor with no insulation can have a surface temperature of 11°C or less.
Once insulated, this can be increased to only 0.5°C different from your room temperature.
This is why some homes ‘feel’ warm and some cold.
6 :: How do I know if my ceiling insulation is adequate?
A rule of thumb for you – if your insulation is lower than your ceiling joists it’s inadequate.
The recommended R5 glasswool batt is 240mm thick and a typical timber ceiling joist is 100mm thick.
The insulation should well protrude past the joist.
If your glasswool insulation looks compressed or is missing in sections, it’s inadequate.
Once again, if you’re not sure, give us a call and we can have a look at it for you.
7 :: We’re building a new home and want to minimise our environmental footprint and keep our energy bills down. Do you do new builds?
Absolutely.
Highlands Insulation can work with you, your builder, or architect from the initial design stages to make sure your dream home is as comfortable and efficient as possible.
We can specify products, perform heat loss calculation scenarios and of course, install the insulation too.
A new build is a fantastic opportunity to get it right the first time.
Thanks Rhys – super helpful!
Highlanders, Rhys also has an in-depth knowledge of fire protection products and the fire hazard properties of insulation materials, so if you’re building in or already live in a bushfire zone, reach out and have a chat.
Rhys has spent over 10 years working in commercial and industrial insulation and 4 years as a professional in fire protection.
This has involved a wide variety of products, solutions, and well over 1000 jobs.
The Highlands Insulation team is local, knowledgeable and all about keeping us comfy!
Have a look at the Highlands Insulation website for more information and give Rhys and the team a call if you’re keen to check on your insulation needs and make a difference to your Southern Highlands home.
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