Types of Insulation
Form	Insulation Materials	Where Applicable	Installation Method(s)	Advantages
Blanket: batts and rolls	Fiberglass Mineral (rock/slag) wool Plastic fibers Natural fibers	Unfinished walls, including foundation walls, and floors and ceilings.	Fitted between studs, joists, and beams.	Do-it-yourself. Suited for standard stud and joist spacing, which is relatively free from obstructions.
Foam Board or Rigid Foam	Polystyrene Polyisocyanurate or polyiso Polyurethane	Unfinished walls, including foundation walls; floors and ceilings; unvented low-slope roofs.	Interior applications: must be covered with 1/2-inch gypsum board/code approved fire safety material. Exterior applications: must be covered with weather-proof facing.	High insulating value for relatively little thickness. Can block thermal short circuits when installed continuously over frames or joists.
Loose-fill	Cellulose Fiberglass Mineral (rock or slag) wool	Enclosed existing wall or open new wall cavities; unfinished attic floors; hard-to-reach places.	Blown into place using special equipment; sometimes poured in.	Good for adding insulation to existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas, and around obstructions.
Reflective system	Foil-faced kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard	Unfinished walls, ceilings, and floors.	Foils, films, or papers: fitted between wood-frame studs, joists, and beams	Do-it-yourself. All suitable for framing at standard spacing. Most effective at preventing downward heat flow; however, effectiveness depends on spacing.
Sprayed foam and foamed-in-place	Cementitious Phenolic Polyisocyanurate Polyurethane	Enclosed existing wall or open new wall cavities; unfinished attic floors.	Applied using small spray containers or in larger quantities as a pressure sprayed (foamed-in-place) product.	Good for adding insulation to existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas, and around obstructions.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs)	Foam board or liquid foam insulation core Straw core insulation	Unfinished walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs for new construction.	Builders connect them together to construct a house.	SIP-built houses provide superior &  uniform insulation;  they also take less time to build