Searching for the best insulation to fit your needs can seem like an overwhelming task. You may be asking questions such as:
- How effective is this going to be?
- What are the differences between bubble, spray foam, and fiberglass?
- Is this going to be worth the money for me?
Hopefully, the information in this article can assist your decision during the buying process.
Firstly, let’s define insulation itself, as well as its core purpose. Insulation prevents the passage of certain amounts of thermal energy. It can be useful to keep heat in during the winter and keep it out during the summer.
The insulation’s effectiveness is measured in R-value. The “R” in R-Value stands for resistance, referring to the resistance insulation has to temperature conduction. For reference, a typical house in the south has an R-value 13 on the walls, and slightly higher R-Values for insulation lining the ceiling or attic space. Houses in the northern states typically have R-Values on the walls in the 20s and 30s on the ceiling.
So, what types of insulation will you come across as you shop for your building? Going through this list, we have outlined some of the most popular insulation options, as well as our recommendations.
These are the following insulation types covered in this article:
- Bubble insulation (single bubble and double bubble)
- Astro armor
- Fiberglass (2in and 4in)
- Spray foam insulation (open cell and closed cell)
Bubble Insulation
Bubble insulation is more of a radiant barrier than it is a true insulation. A radiant barrier’s main purpose is to reflect the heat of the sunlight. The R-value on single bubble insulation is 1, and 1.5 for double bubble, so it will have a very minimal effect in the wintertime. The advantages of bubble insulation include its cost-effective nature, its function as a radiant barrier, and its ability to prevent moisture build-up. The disadvantages, however, lie in the durability and longevity; over time, the bubbles expand and contract due to temperature and climate changes, which will eventually weaken the insulation’s integrity. The cost of single bubble insulation is $1.25/sqft, while double bubble insulation is $1.50/sqft. It is almost always recommended to go double bubble over single as it is a more effective radiant barrier and will last longer.
Astro Armor
Astro Armor is an insulation that acts like bubble insulation but is of much higher quality. It is a rolled foam material that will withstand the effects of time much better than bubble insulation. The R-value of this insulation option clocks in much higher at 7, nearly 5 times the R-value of double-double insulation. Furthermore, Astro Armor also acts as a radiant barrier and prevents moisture. It is the top recommended radiant barrier and has a cost of $1.95/sqft.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation is the most common form of insulation for a metal garage. It comes in 2-inch and 4-inch forms and is a rolled insulation with white backing. The R-value for the 2-inch is 7, while the 4-inch version has an R-value of 13. One of the main caveats with fiberglass insulation lies in the fact that it requires an upgraded form of screws because the fiberglass is installed directly on the metal sheeting. With this different method used for installing the insulation, an upgraded thickness of side panels is also required to prevent divots due to the upgraded screws. With these additional costs compiled, 2-inch fiberglass is $3.65/sqft and $5.25/sqft for 4-inch. It is also recommended to use Dripstop alongside fiberglass insulation, as fiberglass insulation is not an effective prevention method for moisture build-up. Dripstop is $1.25/sqft and is the most effective form of moisture prevention.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is one of the most premium forms of insulation, and comes in both open-cell and closed-cell options. The typical pricing of spray foam insulation comes in 1in increments based on cell type.
Open-cell spray foam insulation is a less dense form of spray foam insulation. It is more flexible and softer than its closed-cell counterpart due to its decreased density and additional air pockets. However, it is also susceptible to moisture build-up due to these air pockets. The R-value is 3.8 per inch of thickness on open-cell, and the cost of spray foam can range beyond $2.30/sqft for 1 inch.
Closed-cell spray foam insulation, on the other hand, does not have these issues and is also effective at preventing moisture build-up. As a more dense and robust version of spray foam, the R-Value is 7 per inch of thickness on closed-cell, while the cost can range beyond $7.20/sqft for 3-inch closed-cell.
