Choosing the right material for insulating your property is essential to creating a comfortable space. Glass wool and mineral wool are two of the most popular types of insulation, and to make it easier for you to choose between the two, we&#;ve put them head-to-head.
Read on to discover the basics of each material and which material is more effective for R-value, cost, moisture and fire resistance, sustainability, sound insulation and ease of installation. Let us help you decide which is better: glass wool or mineral wool.
Glass Wool and Mineral Wool: What&#;s the difference?
Also known as fibreglass, glass wool is made up of very tiny glass fibres. It is made when glass is heated to very high temperatures until it melts and is then spun to create fibres. These fibres bound together and create air pockets. Due to air being a poor conductor of heat, the warm air gets trapped inside these air pockets and warms the surrounding areas.
Also known as stone wool or rock wool, mineral wool is made up of raw materials. These raw materials are heated to very high temperatures until they melt and are then spun to create fibres, similar to the way glass wool is made.
R-Value: Which is better?
Glass wool and mineral wool have very similar R-values, around 3.30 or 3.40 per inch of thickness. This means they have more or less the same efficiency at conducting heat.
Cost: Which is cheaper?
Glass wool is the most cost-effective choice, being around 10% cheaper than mineral wool and just as effective at regulating temperature in your space.
Moisture and fire resistance: Which is more efficient?
When it comes to resisting moisture, mineral wool comes out on top. The material has water-resistant properties and is therefore not affected by damp or humid conditions. This also means you won&#;t have to worry about any mould developing. Glass wool, however, does not possess these same water-resistant properties and can get wet, making it susceptible to mould and rot.
Sustainability: Which is more eco-friendly?
As glass wool is made up of up to 86% recycled materials, it is generally considered much more eco-friendly and environmentally focused than mineral wool, which is made up of up to 70% recycled materials. Both options have a fairly high degree of sustainability, but if you&#;re looking for the most sustainable option, glass wool is the material for you.
Sound insulation: Which is best?
Mineral wool is much denser than glass wool, so it is much better at preventing sound from travelling through the insulation.
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Ease of installation: Which is easiest?
Mineral wool is considered the easiest insulation to install, especially if you&#;re doing it yourself. It is easier to cut into the right size and move into the right place than glass wool, as glass wool is much limper.
Still unsure which insulation material to choose? Get in touch with our team today for expert advice.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this guide are intended for information purposes only. Insulation king shall not be liable, answerable or accountable for any loss or damage resulting from the advice given
Did you know that heating and cooling accounts for 40% of your total household energy usage? Over the last ten years, many people have become more aware of this figure alone, and have hence been influenced to become more energy-aware for the sake of cutting their energy bills. However, finding ways to cut energy usage isn&#;t just easier on the hip pocket &#; it&#;s one of the few ways we can help reduce carbon emissions from day to day. In this blog, we&#;re taking a look at how glasswool insulation fits into all of this, as well as explaining how insulation batts are rated, and where you can buy high-quality insulation for your project.
Australian households alone are responsible for one-fifth of total greenhouse gases emitted by Australia. As an average, this equates to over 18 tonnes of greenhouses gases per household every year! This number may sound too large to even begin tackling, but it all starts with the way your home is constructed.
In this sense, insulation is a highly effective way to reduce your household&#;s carbon footprint. This is because insulation technology traps heat, making the indoor temperature more comfortable all year round. In turn, this means you&#;ll be less reliant on your heating and cooling systems, reducing your usage, requiring less energy overall, and therefore also lowering the amount of carbon dioxide that contributes to your carbon footprint.
For starters, glasswool is predominantly made from recycled glass fibres (including flat glass and glass bottles). The remaining glass is usually sourced from sand &#; a highly abundant resource. These two facts alone mean that glasswool is one of the world&#;s most sustainable building materials. On top of this, many glasswool manufacturers have taken the initiative to make the production process as green as possible, implementing water recycling and clever transportation solutions to help increase overall sustainability.
If left intact, glasswool insulation can also be fully recycled. Glasswool is also extremely versatile, making it perfect for use in residential and commercial projects alike.
So: you&#;re convinced that you need to invest in great insulation, but you aren&#;t sure how they&#;re rated and what is compliant with the requirements of your area. Luckily, we&#;re here to answer all that for you!
You may have already noticed insulation is generally categorised and measured through varying &#;R-values&#;. This is how insulation batts are rated. A good rule of thumb to remember is that a higher R-value is generally representative of stronger insulative capacities, compared to insulation with a lower R-value.
However, this doesn&#;t mean you need to buy the highest R-value insulation whenever you can. In fact, it&#;s more efficient to get an energy assessment for your home or corporate building. An energy assessment will take your specific area and building into account, providing a highly personalised R-value that is tailored to the needs of your project. From here, you can buy glasswool insulation from us, to the exact specifications of your required R-value (as recommended after your energy assessment).
Whether you are an owner-builder or an experienced construction professional, insulation will be a major part of your project. It&#;s important to source products of high quality that comply with the construction requirements of your area, too. And with glasswool, you&#;ll be able to achieve great results while helping reduce your own carbon footprint.
At Insulation Essentials, we stock a variety of insulation products and accessories designed to support residential and commercial projects. We sell our own range of high-quality glasswool batts, as well as competitively-priced products from industry-leading insulation brands.
With over 30 years of combined construction experience, our team members understand that your construction schedule is paramount to the success of your project. That&#;s why we&#;ve simplified the process of buying insulation for maximum convenience and timeliness. You can view our stock through our online store, place an order using our eCart system, and we&#;ll provide fast delivery on your order to your site anywhere in Melbourne and throughout Victoria.
Are you confused about all the glasswool options, or still wondering, &#;How are insulation batts rated?&#; Chat to one of our industry professionals today on 03 to discover the insulation solution that&#;s best for your project.
Want more information on eco friendly glass wool? Feel free to contact us.