Home Insulation For New Construction and Additions – Boston, Worcester

New home construction is increasing all over Massachusetts. One of the biggest considerations when building a new home is keeping your energy costs down once you move in. To do this, you need to install the right amount of insulation in the all the right places.

In Boston and Worcester, you will save money and energy when you build a new home or addition if you install a combination of cavity insulation and insulative sheathing. Reduce exterior wall leaks by taping the joints of exterior sheathing and caulking and sealing exterior walls. Cavity insulation can be installed at levels up to R-15 in a 2 inch x 4 inch wall and up to R-21 in a 2 inch x 6 inch wall.

These help to reduce the energy that would otherwise be lost through the wood frame. In Massachusetts, which is zone 5, you should install R38 to R60 in the attic, R30 to R38 in the Cathedral Ceiling, R13 to R15 in the Cavity, R2.5 to R6 Insulation Sheathing, and R25 - R30 in the floor.

You should consider attic or roof radiant barriers (in hot climates), reflective insulation, and foundation insulation for new home construction. Check with Custom Insulation for more information about these options.

Insulation Tips

• Consider factors such as your climate, home design, and budget when selecting insulation for your home.
• Use higher R-value insulation, such as spray foam insulation, on exterior walls and in cathedral ceilings to get more insulation with less thickness.
• Install attic air barriers such as wind baffles along the entire attic eave to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic. Ventilation helps with moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills, but don't ventilate your attic if you have insulation on the underside of the roof.
• Be careful how close you place insulation next to a recessed light fixture—unless it is insulation contact (IC) rated—to avoid a fire hazard.

For more information, contact Custom Insulation.

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