The catch line "why pay more?" is the phrase that's sure to irk makers of pricier insulating products such as spray foam. But our experience building VISION house show homes across the country has taught us that contractors pay more for certain insulation materials for a good reason: because achieving a "perfect" insulating job requires three things that are often in short supply: time, experienced labor, and communication among the trades.
A new report from Building Science Corp. aims, according to its authors, to assess "the adequacy of R-value as a metric for the thermal performance of enclosure assemblies." The highly technical report does fill in some gaps in understanding of how insulating materials perform in homes. And it incorporates newer products, such as spray foam, ICFs and hybrid systems. But these results should not be oversimplified. The various insulating products have their place, especially given what is arguably the toughest variable in the insulation equation: quality of installation.
Nonetheless, here are some of the observations reported by the researchers:
Despite its limitations, the report is still valuable, as an academic exploration of just how important insulating details can be. It also suggests that so-called hybrid systems may have the right idea: a way to balance installation surety with cost.