As a homeowner, you know that there are many elements that come together to keep your house at the perfect temperature and protect it from outside weather. One of those key components is insulation; having the right type and amount of insulation is essential for both keeping energy costs in check and achieving a comfortable climate in your home all year round. If you’re wondering about how to cut insulation, look no further! We will go over the basics of how to set up your space, measurements, and tools needed to complete the job.
If you have an older home or are planning an addition, you may want to put some thought into adding insulation. If you love a home improvement project, you may even be interested in doing it yourself!
Before We Start: Why Is Insulation Important?
Insulation is a key part of your home. For many homeowners, though, “out of sight, out of mind” applies. Because they cannot see the insulation, it is easy to forget how important it is…and how it can degrade over time.
Here are some of the key reasons you may want to invest in new insulation.
- Protecting The Exterior – While most of us think of insulation as a tool to help maintain the internal temperature of our home, insulation plays a vital role in keeping the exterior protected as well! Lack of proper insulation can lead to the formation of ice dams, condensation, and other forms of water damage.
- Energy Efficiency – If your heating and cooling bills are unexpectedly high, adding new insulation could help! When your home is better insulated, you don’t have to work your HVAC system so hard.
- Pest Control – Pests like rodents and insects are notorious for crawling into any open space that they can find. Keep them out of your house by adding the proper amount of insulation. This helps fill in any gaps or holes that pests may use to enter your house.
What Type of Insulation Do I Need?
When it comes to insulation, there is no shortage of options. Homeowners can choose from all sorts of styles, depending on their specific needs. These options include:
- Fiberglass insulation
- Foam insulation
- Spray insulation
- Loose-fill insulation
- Concrete block insulation
Most people keep it simple, using fiberglass insulation rolls to keep their homes protected. Fiberglass insulation is cost-effective, lasts well, and provides excellent insulation from the elements. When it comes to adding insulation, most people choose to use a different type of fiberglass insulation in the form of blown-in insulation.
For our purposes today, we’ll mostly be discussing fiberglass insulation batts, as they are the most popular choice.
How Much Does Insulation Cost?
While installing insulation does require some elbow grease, it doesn’t have to break the bank! Fiberglass insulation is particularly affordable, coming in at $.80-$1.55 per square foot. Most homeowners spend around $300-$500 to insulate a room.
If you opt for a material other than fiberglass batts, expect that price to go up slightly.
4 Tips On How to Cut Insulation
You’ve bought the insulation, and now you are ready for installation! The first step is to cut your insulation to size. But how exactly do you do that? Follow these 4 easy steps to get started.
1) Prepare The Space
Before you unroll your insulation batts, you’ll want to prep your space. Fiberglass can be hugely irritating to the skin, so it is essential that you wear protective clothing that covers your entire body, as well as a dust mask and safety glasses.
In order to avoid getting fiberglass all over your room, prepare a flat surface by laying out a tarp or some other material to catch the fallout.
2) Measure, Measure, Measure!
Next, take a measuring tape and carefully measure the area you want to insulate. We always recommend measuring twice to ensure that your numbers are correct.
3) Create a Straight Edge
In order to ensure a good cut, you’ll want to create a straight edge. If you don’t own one, you can create one out of a few pieces of plywood cut into an L shape. Use this to mark a clean edge on your insulation batts.
4) Make Clear Cuts
Now it is time to cut! Unroll your batt on your flat surface. When it comes to cutting fiberglass batts, a sharp knife is key. Whether you use a utility knife or an insulation knife, make sure that it is properly sharpened to give you the cleanest cut.
Contact First American For Insulation Services!
When it comes to insulation services and repairs, First American is the one you want to call. Our technicians are well trained, experienced, and trustworthy; they get the job done right the first time. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! At First American Roofing and Siding, we are here to help with all of your home needs, from roofing and storm damage repairs to insulation installation. Looking for help? Contact us today to receive a free estimate on your home improvement project!
