Exterior Wall Insulation - Uses And Advantages
This article discusses the uses and advantages of exterior wall insulation, which is vital for the purpose of regulating energy consumption in the home. This kind of insulation, which may be used in conjunction with house wrap insulation, is essential because without it the heating system would be overworked in winter while the air conditioning system will work too hard during summer. There are various types of exterior wall insulation systems, including polymer render systems, one-coat system with mesh or lath, traditional render systems, and brick slip faced systems.
The exterior wall insulation system is a decorative, protective and thermally insulated external cladding system, which is composed of mineral wool, foamed polystyrene, synthetic or mineral plaster, and polyurethane foam. The use of external insulation has several advantages over internal insulation. These include the fact that house occupants need not get out of the house while workers are installing the insulation, elimination or reduction of possible cold bridges, and avoidance of the problems of insulating several parts of the interior of the house, such as internal fittings and cupboards. This kind of insulating system may also be used for basement wall insulation.
Meanwhile, concrete walls, such as those located in the basement, need to have insulation added to assist in preventing heat from escaping from the basement. The predominant kind of insulation for the concrete walls of the basement is stiff sheets that one-inch thick. For those walls that already have insulation but have been found to be inadequate, a retrofit may be required.
Another possible insulation for concrete walls, is rigid foam insulation. This can be utilized as foundation insulation and also as thermal insulation for other concrete structures like concrete slabs, crawl spaces, and basement walls. For foundation walls, do not forget to apply water proofing before applying the insulation.
Meanwhile, house wrap insulation uses a thin membrane produced from various materials, such as film sheets, tapes, fibers and plastics. The kinds of insulation for house wrapping include vinyl faced insulation, expanding foam insulation, foil faced insulation, fiberglass insulation and aerogel house insulation. Various kinds of building papers may also be utilized as house wrap although they are less effective as insulators. These materials are strong and they are resistant to moisture. Thus, they will not permit water or air to go through the wall cavity if they have been installed correctly.
There are many other benefits of the exterior wall insulation. These include the assurance of a dry and stable structure, enhancement of internal comfort levels, possibility for thermal management of buildings, advantageous whole life costs, minimization of the possibility of condensation, combination of durability and aesthetics, contribution to the minimization of carbon dioxide emissions, and decrease in the required building maintenance. In conclusion, external insulation offers a lot of advantages that practically assure their ascendancy over interior insulation. All that is needed to ensure that they will perform their function properly is to install them correctly. With this insulation, expenses for heating during winter and the costs of air conditioning during summer will be drastically reduced.
