In the building industry, the 'R-value' is the measurement of the insulation's resistance to heat flow. 

The higher the R-value, the better performance of the insulation batt to slow down the heat transfer flow, the greater the insulation results and the better the savings on energy bills. Insulation batts and insulation products must have an R-value rating and it is this rating that needs to be taken into consideration when insulating a home.

When insulating a home adopt an all-round approach

Purchasing and installing insulation requires forward planning, so it's vital to firstly assess your home to see where the most energy is lost and the steps that need to be taken to address this. For example, if air is getting in or out through gaps around windows, doors and skylights, purchasing shutters, draft-stoppers and thicker or lined curtains can help as well as checking if heaters and air conditioners are in working order and so forth. When this has been ticked off, assessing what type of insulation you require to maintain the perfect temperature, cool or cosy all year round in your home, becomes easier and possibly more cost-effective.

If purchasing insulation batts is the solution, then making sure to do the research on what products are out in the market is essential. For example, Bradford products are known to be the highest rated insulation batts and one of the best insulation solutions in Australia.

Choosing the right R-value for you

Depending on whether you will be adding insulation to your walls, ceiling or underfloor, the R-values available for each application may be different.

For example, Bradford Optimo Underfloor Insulation comes in R-values of 2.1 and 2.5 (representing close to 20% difference in thermal protection). Bradford Gold Ceiling Batts comes in 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4,1. 

As a rule of thumb, the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation will be at keeping the inside of your home at an ambient temperature for longer periods. 

Contact The Home Insulation Team on 1300 662 302 to find out which R-value and insulation type is best suited to your home.