| Insulating a Replacement Window |
| Written by Charles Faust | |
| Monday, 28 July 2008 | |
|
Question: What is the best insulation to use around replacement windows? Answer: There are two primary types of insulation that are used around replacement windows, fiberglass insulation and spray foam insulation. Most replacement window contractors like to use fiberglass insulation since it is rather cheap and it does not require a trained installer. Generally professional window companies will use a spray foam insulation in order to provide the highest R value around the window opening. When spray foam is used properly your window frame area will be completely filled with insulation. With fiberglass insulation you will never be able to insulate the area and achieve the same R value that you would get by using foam insulation. Fiberglass insulation is generally applied "to thick" where so much is cramped in that it is not able to trap air and and it ends up providing little or no insulation value. If the fiberglass is "under filled" then it only traps a little air and allows for the flow of air thus providing a rather poor insulation. Foam insulation requires a properly trained installer or your house can become a mess in short time. If an installer uses too much foam it will leak out and get all over your new windows, your walls, your floors and your furniture. Since foam insulation will cost your replacement window company more money and time, you will end up paying a little more money for your project. The extra cost ($5-$20) is well worth it since you would be wasting your money by installing a energy efficient window with bad insulation around it. If you are looking for estimates on your replacement window project, please feel free to use our free Replacement Window Estimate Form.                 |
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