How to Install Fibreglass Insulation

March 31, 2020

An effective fibreglass insulation install can improve your home’s energy performance, comfort, and utility cost. With professional help you can be sure that using fibreglass insulation is the right choice for your planned home upgrades, and that it would be the most cost-effective option for you to choose. If you are wondering how to install fiberglass insulation in your own home, we have laid out this guide to help you on your way.

To speak with us directly about a fibreglass insulation install in your home, please fill out the form below. This not only puts you in touch with our Customer Experience Team, but it also allows you to schedule a free insulation estimate that will help you make sense of your options. 

What is Fibreglass Insulation

Fibreglass insulation is a material made from sand and bits of recycled glass, and it is capable of improving the energy performance of a home when properly installed. It often comes in what are called ‘batts’ - or rather, large woven pads that can be fitted directly into open areas such as a wall cavity. However, it also comes in the form of blown insulation. Also, it does not absorb water and is excellent at sound deadening. This makes fibreglass insulation a fantastic choice for home upgrades that are made in the name of comfort and / or energy performance.   

Where Can Fibreglass Insulation be Installed?

Fibreglass insulation can be installed just about anywhere in a home. If there is an open area that needs insulation, such as wall cavity insulation or ceiling insulation, fibreglass batts are able to insulate it without any hassle. They come in standard sizes of 16 or 24 inches, which allows for easy installs into any standard sized cavities within your home. For differently sized spaces or tight spots, the batts can easily be cut and form-fitted to properly fill the entire cavity. 

Fibreglass for Attic Insulation

Fibreglass insulation is an affordable and effective choice for your attic insulation. It is capable of greatly improving your home’s energy performance and comfort on every floor, and can be easily installed between exposed studs or joists. Due to the way that air flows through a home, GNI recommends that you also look into air sealing or air leakage testing to ensure that your upgrades are able to perform to their maximum capability. The hybrid insulation option is also a common choice for attics - see below for more information. 

Fibreglass for Basement Insulation

If you are looking to add basement insulation, fibreglass batts should be an option you consider. A professional installation, combined with air sealing, can help protect your basement’s moisture levels. Batts are also a good choice for any rooms that you want to have additional sound deadening, such as a home theatre or media room. 

Fibreglass for Exterior Wall Insulation

Your home’s exterior walls can be fully insulated with cost-effective fibreglass batts to great effect. When your wall cavities are exposed, the batts can be easily fitted between the studs to allow for a quick but effective upgrade. This makes it a fantastic choice if you are already undergoing home renovations that have exposed the wall cavities, or if you have plans to do so in the future. 

If you are looking to add exterior wall insulation to a wall that has already been finished with drywall etc., take a look at the retrofit drill and fill method of installing blown-in fibre. This may be the better option in some scenarios - GNI can help you with this choice. 

How Does Fibreglass Insulation Improve Energy Performance?

Simply put, fibreglass insulation works alongside your home’s air sealing to provide protection from the weather outside. Without it, your home would be terribly difficult to keep warm or cool, and you would be exposed to cold drafts and potential health issues such as sick building syndrome. When you make upgrades with any type of insulating material, you make it easier for your home to maintain a constant temperature and you reduce the amount of stress put on your furnace and air conditioner. In turn, this means you are able to save energy and see a number of benefits, such as:

• Lower utility costs
• More comfortable living environment
• Higher home resale value
• Lower household carbon footprint
• Quieter living space

Sealing Air Leaks Also Improves Energy Performance

If you are looking to improve your home’s energy performance, sealing air leaks is a great place to start. When combined with proper and effective insulation, a well air-sealed home is capable of reaching extremely high levels of energy efficiency. By effectively managing the stack effect, unwanted air flow inside a home can be successfully mitigated. This can be done by addressing any air leaks within the attic and basement, which also helps to keep your heated or cooled air inside the home where it belongs. 

Sealing air leaks works to prevent the intrusion of unfiltered exterior air into your living spaces; improving air quality and reducing the amount of work that your HVAC system needs to do to keep you comfortable.

Hybrid Insulation: Spray Foam and Fibreglass Batts

Often used in attics, hybrid insulation is a method of upgrading your home using two different insulating materials alongside one another. Fibreglass batts are usually combined with spray foam, providing a cost-effective option that joins energy performance with affordability. The hybrid approach may be the best choice for your planned upgrades - a free insulation estimate from GNI can help you determine this. To learn more, please contact our Customer Experience Team by telephone at 1-800-265-1914. 

DIY Fibreglass Insulation vs a Professional Install

Fibreglass batts may seem fairly straightforward to install yourself, but there are actually a number of variables that can affect the quality and energy performance of an install. We also recommend that you leave old insulation removal to a trained professional, since there can be potential health risks involved with disturbing certain materials. In addition to this, It is common for a professional install to be the most affordable option in the long run, since you can be certain that your install is done correctly and with the rest of your home’s energy performance in mind.