{"id":37803,"date":"2023-06-22T09:37:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T01:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3t-insulation.com\/thermal-insulation-for-residential-homes-updated-edition-2024\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T23:26:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:26:37","slug":"thermal-insulation-for-residential-homes-updated-edition-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/3t-insulation.com\/en\/thermal-insulation-for-residential-homes-updated-edition-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Thermal Insulation for Residential Homes – Updated Edition (2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thermal Insulation for Residential Homes<\/h1><\/div>

As temperatures continue to rise daily, installing thermal insulation has become a necessity, and there is very limited information available for decision-making. We wrote this article to provide information for general individuals and homeowners experiencing hot house problems<\/strong> and high electricity bills<\/strong> to help them make decisions about installing thermal insulation, along with recommending suitable products for use.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Skip to your preferred section<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What is Residential Thermal Insulation?<\/h2><\/div>

The main insulation systems are divided into residential buildings and industrial applications, which have different usage requirements. Residential buildings focus primarily on heat and sound protection, while industrial applications focus on maintaining product temperature from manufacturing processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/b>Definition of Residential Thermal Insulation<\/h3><\/div>

Thermal insulation for residential homes, including commercial buildings, hotels, and shopping centers, is insulation that can prevent heat from entering the building, maintain temperature in air-conditioned rooms, and help reduce external noise.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Buildings<\/span>
<\/div>

Image - Buildings with thermal and sound insulation installation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/b>Why Should We Install Thermal Insulation?<\/h3><\/div>

The main reason we install thermal insulation is obviously because “the house is too hot.” During the day, metal sheet roofing can reach temperatures of up to 60\u00baC <\/span>(measured with a laser thermometer). For homes with ceiling installations, it’s slightly better, with temperatures under the ceiling around 35 – 37\u00baC<\/p>\n

Thermal insulation has therefore become necessary, not just an optional home addition. Installing thermal insulation doesn’t just make your house cooler – it has 2 additional benefits as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Reduce Electricity Bills (from Air Conditioning)<\/h4><\/div>

High electricity bills!!! It’s shocking nowadays that some houses’ electricity bills have increased 2-3 times from what they used to pay. Besides the Ft rate for electricity, the actual units used have increased significantly. More than 60% of the increased electricity units come from air conditioning use.<\/p>\n

As it gets hotter, we need to use air conditioning – that’s normal. But if the room temperature can be reduced from 35\u00baC to 32\u00baC (or lower), this 3\u00baC difference makes the air conditioner work 47% less, and installing thermal insulation will reduce electricity bills<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Thermal Insulation Helps Block Noise<\/h4><\/div>

Many people are curious and frequently ask if thermal insulation can prevent noise. The answer depends on the type of insulation.<\/p>\n

Open-Cell Insulation<\/strong> such as glass wool, rock wool, or polyester fiber has a porous structure that absorbs sound energy and doesn’t let it pass through. Therefore, fiber-type thermal insulation can help prevent noise.<\/p>\n

Close-Cell Insulation<\/strong> such as black rubber insulation and polyethylene cannot absorb sound energy. The closed-cell structure blocks sound from passing through the insulation material to the other side.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

What types of thermal insulation are available for residential homes?<\/h2><\/div>

There are many materials used for thermal insulation, but we will focus on the 5 most popular types.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/b>Glass Wool Insulation<\/h3><\/div>

Glass wool insulation is made from recycled glass or silica sand, melted at high temperatures and sprayed into fibrous blankets. It has a low thermal conductivity of only 0.034 W\/m.K and features an open-cell structure, making it an excellent sound insulator as well.<\/p>\n

Yellow insulation (MicroFiber brand)<\/a> and green insulation (SCG brand)<\/a>. The material is water-resistant – when water drops on it, it beads up rather than being absorbed. When exposed to air flow, the water droplets evaporate naturally. It has low density (12-48 kg\/m\u00b3) and is ideal for ceiling applications due to its light weight. Thickness can be increased to 3 inches (75 mm) or 6 inches (150 mm).<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Glass<\/span>
<\/div>

Image - Glass Wool Insulation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/b>Rock Wool Insulation (ROCKWOOL)<\/h3><\/div>

Rock wool insulation<\/a> is manufactured from volcanic rocks like dolomite and basalt, melted at high temperatures and sprayed into fibrous blankets. It has a low thermal conductivity equal to glass wool at 0.034 W\/m.K and features an open-cell structure, providing excellent sound insulation.<\/p>\n

The brownish-green material is water-resistant – water beads up on the surface and evaporates with air flow or heat exposure. Its high density (40-100 kg\/m\u00b3) makes it ideal for wall insulation or under-roof installation for heat protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Rock<\/span>
<\/div>

Image - Rock Wool Insulation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/b>Black Rubber Insulation<\/h3><\/div>

Black rubber insulation<\/a> is a soft, matte black rubber sheet made from polymer rubber. It has a low thermal conductivity of 0.033 W\/m.K and features a closed-cell structure. When installed on ceilings or under false ceilings, it helps reduce rain noise.<\/p>\n

The advantage of plastic foam or black rubber insulation is that it’s fiber-free, eliminating irritation during installation from glass or rock wool fibers. Over long-term use, it won’t generate dust from fiber breakdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Black<\/span>
<\/div>

Image - Black Rubber Insulation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/b>PE (Polyethylene) Insulation<\/h3><\/div>

PE (Polyethylene) insulation<\/a> is a plastic foam with a very low thermal conductivity of 0.032 W\/m.K. Due to this low thermal conductivity, PE insulation has a maximum thickness of 25 mm, as this thickness is sufficient for effective use. <\/p>\n

Gray foam with aluminum foil surface reflects 95% of heat radiation, making it most suitable for under-roof installation, as roofs have the highest heat radiation rate compared to ceilings or walls.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"PE<\/span>
<\/div>

Image - PE (Polyethylene) Insulation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/b>Heat Reflective Sheets, Heat Reflective Foil (Aluminum Foil)<\/h3><\/div>

Aluminum foil heat reflector<\/a> is a heat reflective sheet made of pure aluminum, reinforced with tri-directional fibers in a diamond grid pattern to enhance the aluminum foil’s strength. There are two common types of aluminum foil used:<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \n
  1. 5-layer aluminum foil with 95% heat radiation reflection (aluminum foil on one side), used in combination with other types of insulation to increase heat insulation efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    5-Layer Aluminum Foil Heat Insulation<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n
        \n
      1. Aluminum Foil<\/li>\n
      2. Polyethylene adhesive<\/li>\n
      3. Tri-directional reinforcement fibers, Diamond Grid<\/li>\n
      4. Polyethylene adhesive<\/li>\n
      5. Kraft Paper<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>
        \"Heat<\/span>
        <\/div>

        Image - Heat Reflective Aluminum Foil (Single Side)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

        2. 7-layer aluminum foil with 97% heat radiation reflection (aluminum foil on both sides), used for under-roof insulation to reflect heat radiation.<\/p>\n

        7-Layer Aluminum Foil Heat Insulation<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n
            \n
          1. \n
              \n
            1. \n
                \n
              1. Aluminum Foil<\/li>\n
              2. Polyethylene adhesive<\/li>\n
              3. Tri-directional reinforcement fibers, Diamond Grid<\/li>\n
              4. Polyethylene adhesive<\/li>\n
              5. Kraft Paper<\/li>\n
              6. Polyethylene adhesive<\/li>\n
              7. Aluminum Foil<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>
                \"7-Layer<\/span>
                <\/div>

                Image - 7-Layer Heat Reflective Aluminum Foil (Double Side)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                What are the different ways we can install thermal insulation?<\/h2><\/div>

                For building and residential thermal insulation, we can install it in 3 areas:<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Under-roof insulation installation<\/li>\n
                2. Installing Ceiling Thermal Insulation<\/li>\n
                3. Wall insulation installation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  For typical homes with false ceilings<\/b>, we recommend installing insulation above the false ceiling as this is sufficient. Installing insulation above the ceiling is easier than installing it under the roof.<\/p>\n

                  Wall insulation for heat and sound<\/b> is typically installed in specific rooms such as bedrooms requiring high privacy, home theaters to prevent sound from escaping, and air-conditioned living rooms that are used during daytime.<\/p>\n

                  Under-roof insulation<\/b> is recommended for carports or extensions with metal sheet roofing that emit high heat. Installing insulation under the roof can reduce temperature from 60\u00b0C to 35\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                  3T Recommendations<\/h5><\/div>

                  Insulation doesn’t actually reduce temperature by 25\u00b0C – rather, metal sheet roofing can reach temperatures of up to 60\u00b0C during the day, and insulation prevents this heat from transferring down. The temperature under insulated roofing stays around 35\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

                  If we install a false ceiling under the roof, the temperature will also be around 35\u00b0C. However, if we add insulation above the false ceiling, the temperature can be reduced to 32\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/div>

                  \"Residential<\/span>
                  <\/div>

                  Image - Residential Insulation Installation Pattern<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                  <\/b>Roof Insulation<\/h3><\/div>

                  Roof insulation installation can be divided into 2 types:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. Insulation installation for new roofs (before roof installation)<\/li>\n
                  2. Insulation installation for existing roofs (after roof installation, when adding insulation)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>

                    Insulation installation for new roofs (before roof installation)<\/h4><\/div>

                    This type of installation can use any type of insulation as it’s easier than installing after the roof is in place. Equipment needed includes chicken mesh attached to rafters to support the weight of the insulation to be laid.<\/p>\n<\/div>

                    <\/b><\/p>\n

                    Installation method using chicken mesh<\/p><\/h5><\/div>

                    1. Attach chicken mesh (1\/2 inch mesh size) to rafters using screws (or weld to rafters)<\/p>\n<\/div>

                    \"\"<\/span>
                    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                    2. Attach purlins to rafters with screws at 1.2-meter intervals, installing over the chicken mesh<\/p>\n<\/div>

                    \"\"<\/span>
                    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                    3. Place insulation in the spaces between purlins<\/p>\n<\/div>

                    \"\"<\/span>
                    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                    4. Install roofing and secure to purlins<\/p>\n<\/div>

                    \"\"<\/span>
                    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

                    * For glass wool or rock wool insulation with one-sided aluminum foil, place the foil facing downward<\/p>\n

                    ** For PE or black rubber insulation with one-sided aluminum foil, place the foil facing upward<\/p>\n

                    *** Check that the purlin spacing is appropriate for the insulation thickness. Prefabricated purlins (25mm thick) cannot accommodate rock wool or glass wool insulation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

                    3T Recommendations<\/h5><\/div>