SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Blog

How Insulation Supports Your Building Envelope in Southwest Florida

How familiar are you with the integrity of your home’s exterior shell? Did you have a hand in the construction or are you the newest in a long line of owners? If you’re not confident in the condition of the house’s structural support, don’t worry; it’s not a common area to keep up with. Like many hidden aspects of a building, it falls under the “out of sight, out of mind” principle. If nothing seems to be wrong, then what’s there to know about it?

However, it’s a good idea for you and your household to have some basic knowledge of your building envelope and the support it needs. This barrier between your interior and exterior plays a significant role in maintaining your comfort and safety. It’s also a great place to start if you’re trying to look into quality home renovations, especially if your household is looking to lower your monthly utility costs and increase your energy efficiency.

What is a Building Envelope?

The building envelope of your home is simply the divide of the inside and outside of the building. The purpose of the building envelope is to help keep the interior of your home climate controlled. The exterior system includes windows, doors, the roof, floor, and even your foundation and insulation. When it comes to making your home energy-efficient, many home renovations aren't going to matter if you have a poor building envelope because of air leakage, irregular temperatures, and more.

A climate-controlled building increases your home's energy efficiency and reduces health risks. Keeping the heat inside during the winter and at bay during the summer means your HVAC system puts in less work to keep the inside of your home temperature regulated. While the main purpose of your home's envelope is to keep your home climate controlled, it has a number of other functions. The building envelope also significantly supports the strength of your home's structure, improving how well it can take external forces and weight.

Insulation and Heat Transfer

Insulation is an important factor in maintaining a strong and effective building envelope. This is because a primary function of insulation is also climate control and temperature regulation. While you may be familiar with the product in your attic, did you know insulation material is installed throughout your home? Batt, blown-in, or spray foam lines the insides of your walls and floors, in between ceiling joists, and protects your basement and crawl spaces.

Insulation is designed to reduce the rate of heat transfer, which is how heat enters and exits a building. An insulation’s R-value is the resistance value to heat, measuring how effective the material can slow the transfer of heat between structures. The higher the R-value, the better an insulation material can regulate your home’s temperature. Not only does it keep heat from entering and leaving your building, but it also slows the rate at which the heat travels between rooms and floors. If you find one room or even a whole side of your home that’s too cold or hot in comparison to the rest of the house, you may need updated insulation.

How Insulation Supports Your Building Envelope

Your building envelope is significantly improved with properly installed insulation that has quality coverage throughout the house. The primary support that insulation provides is attributed to the increased temperature regulation. But most material also contributes to the safety and integrity of your building envelope. Many types of insulation are either treated chemically or have natural properties to resist moisture, fire, and even pests. Mold growth, bacteria, infestation, and heat damage not only degrade the building envelope but can significantly increase the rate of deterioration for the material and structure.

Other insulation types can even support the structural integrity of your home. For example, closed-cell spray foam is a great choice when it comes to improving your building envelope. It has an average R-value of 6.9 per inch, which is one of the highest out of the common materials to install in your home (e.g., blown-in fiberglass insulation has about 2.7 R-value while open-cell spray foam has an R-value of about 3.7). Closed-cell spray foam is also very rigid, which provides additional strength to the joists and walls it’s applied onto.

Talk to a Southwest Florida Insulation Expert

There's always something new to learn about your home, regardless of whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a veteran homeowner. When it comes to the building envelope of your house, it needs to be well-maintained and supported so it can provide the necessary strength to your structure. Your building envelope directly contributes to a climate-controlled environment and the strength of a home; as such, keeping it well insulated can also contribute to reduced costs and increased energy efficiency.

At Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida, we understand the need to be fast and efficient, while remaining cost-effective. Our team provides free insulation evaluations so you have the opportunity to receive a full breakdown of your home's current condition in order to make a balanced decision. We believe the comfort and safety of your household shouldn't be taken lightly, but your budget shouldn't be sacrificed either. Contact our team today to learn more about how Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida can help develop an energy-efficient home on your terms.