SOUTH MIAMI Blog

Insulation for new homes

Insulation is an important part of home efficiency and performance. In order for a home to be energy efficient, it has to be built right and its air sealing and insulation need to perform effectively. If you’re in the process of building a new home, it’s time to start thinking about insulation. Taking the initiative to insulate is not always easy and should be taken seriously as choosing the best insulation materials will affect the air quality and comfort of your new home. And since you will be spending the majority of time in your home and spending a lot of money to build it right, you should make sure you are getting the best materials and insulation installation.

Increasing energy efficiency in new homes

Reducing the air flow and heat transfer in and out of your new home will reduce your future energy bills and prevent moisture issues that could lead to health risks such as mold and mildew. Creating an air barrier by installing insulation can prevent that air flow and bring down your cooling costs in the future. Koala Insulation provides home builders with insulation for their new construction projects. We air seal small leaks and then insulate your attic with your insulation of choice, e.g. Spray Foam or Fiberglass. This process allows us to achieve high R-values that match or even exceed standards. Installing the highest quality insulation will extend your new building’s energy efficiency for years to come. Our aim is to increase the value of homes by making them high performing, energy saving and comfortable for their owners. The most important decisions about the home of your dreams are made in the planning and designing process and the U.S. Department of Energy recommends including a whole-house energy efficiency approach in that process.

The following areas of your home should be taken into account in the energy efficiency planning process: 

• Energy Star rated appliances and home electronics - for less energy consumption
• Insulation and air sealing - don’t let that Florida heat into your home and overwork your A/C system; insulation will support your A/C and bring down your energy cost
• Lighting and daylighting - use LED bulbs and double-think your window placement for daylight but no direct sun 
• Water heating - go for ENERGY STAR Certified water heaters
• Windows, doors, and skylights - make sure these are properly sealed and don’t allow air transfer.

Which insulation materials are best for new homes under construction?

The most commonly used insulation materials are Spray Foam, Fiberglass and Cellulose. Here in Florida, where the sun is burning down on us nearly all year round, attic insulation is the most important kind of insulation for your home and luckily the three mentioned materials work perfectly in your attic. 

Cellulose is a cost-effective option that has been used in insulation for a long time and can be applied through blown-in insulation. The durable material is made from a variety of recyclable components like old newspapers. There’s no need to worry - even though that old newspaper seems like a fire hazard, cellulose insulation is actually treated with specific human-safe formulations that make it fire-resistant and keep everything including pests out of your attic.

Fiberglass is another long-standing favorite when it comes to insulation materials and is made from thinly spun glass fibers. Just like cellulose, this popular insulation material is fire and moisture resistant and can be installed in batts or through blown-in insulation. 

In recent years, Spray Foam Insulation - has gained popularity and is now the most requested insulation solution. Spray Foam is the most energy-efficient insulation material and the only one that creates an air seal. Spray Foam is also Class One Fire Rated and doesn’t retain water so it actively prevents mold and mildew.

If you want to read more about its specific benefits (and what the difference between open cell and closed-cell Spray Foam is!) check out our blog about Spray Foam.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of options for you to choose from when deciding on the insulation for your new home. Whether you are looking for the best energy-efficient solution (Spray Foam) or a very good, but also more cost-effective option (Cellulose & Fiberglass) - Koala Insulation of South Miami offers them all and will gladly help you insulate your new home so you can enjoy the benefits for years to come. Walking through the different options with a team of experts will allow you to not only take the objectively best materials into consideration but also what specific requirements you, your new home and its environment have and how those will affect your future energy usage.