Make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and save yourself some money with proper insulation. With the right tools and materials, it isn't hard to install insulation yourself.

• For ceiling and attic spaces, use batts of R-30 or R-38. In exterior walls R-13 to R-21 is commonly used, while in interior walls where insulation is used for sound control, R-11 is used most frequently.
  
  
• Open the packages by cutting lengthwise through the side panel. Be careful to avoid cutting the product or facing. The insulation will quickly expand to its full volume when the bag is opened.
  
  
• Gently push batts into the cavity so that it sits all the way in, especially at the corner and edges. Then, fluff it to its full expansion by pulling it forward to fill the depth of the cavity. The fit should be snug.
  
  
• With faced batts make sure the vapour retarder is facing the conditioned interior space, unless building codes specify otherwise.
  
  
• Take care not to stretch the facing too tight as you staple, which can over-compress the batt, and avoid gaps and puckers.
  
  
• Secure floor insulation with wire fasteners, sometimes called "lightning rods." Press the fasteners so they bow up gently against the subflooring without compressing it. Space the fasteners at least six inches from each end of the batt and 12 to 24 in. apart.
  
  
• Cut insulation about an inch wider than the space using a sharp utility knife against a safe backstop, such as an unfinished floor or other smooth, flat surface. Always cut on the unfaced side of the batt.
  
  
• For more ease of installation, look for batts that have vertical perforations at intervals along the width of the batt so cutting with a knife is not needed. Simply grip the insulation on either side of the perforations and tear to trim it to the desired width.
  
  
• For shorter spaces, cut the insulation to fit properly. Don't double it over or compress it. Compression changes the R-value of the insulation.
  
  
• If it takes more than one batt to fill the height of a wall cavity, make sure the two pieces are butted snugly together.

  
  

Roll insulation can be used anywhere in your home, although they are best for covering long unobstructed areas like attics and crawl spaces. It can be cut to fit any size cavity and are typically available in faced and unfaced. for a more comfortable installation with less itch and dust, look for a product which is poly-encapsulated, or wrapped in plastic, The plastic facing also serves as a vapour retarder.

Faced insulation is used in exterior walls as well as attics, finished basements, ceilings, floors, knee walls and cathedral ceilings. Like other forms of insulation, rolls are available in a variety of R-values. When choosing roll insulation, make sure you use the most appropriate R-value.

Batts are pre-cut panels of insulation and available in a variety of lengths, widths, and R-values. It's made to fit within most regular wall framing, which are usually placed 12, 16, or 24 in. on centre, and for either 8 or 9 foot high walls. Batt insulation is available with and without facing, with faced batts used in exterior walls, attics, finished basements, ceilings, floors, knee walls, and cathedral ceilings.

The facing material usually serves as a vapour retarder and makes handling and attachment easier to install. Factory-applied vapour retarded facings are generally made of kraft paper. To attach faced batts to framing members, staple through the flanges. For unfaced batts, place them between framing members and let friction hold them in place.

Blow-in insulation (also called loose fill or blowing wool insulation) can be used in several different applications, but it is especially useful in unfinished attics or attics with hard-to-reach areas. You can rent an insulation blowing machine at many home improvement and equipment rental centres. However, depending on your budget and the size of the area you are insulating, you may want to hire a contractor. A trained professional may be able to install your blow-in insulation faster, more efficiently and with better results.

Like batts and rolls, blow-in insulation is also specified by R-value, but this is not the same as inches of thickness installed. It is a calculation of quantity of materials and rate of blowing needed to reach a desired density and height of material and cover the entire space. To achieve the desired R-value, it will be important to follow package labelling. The minimum number of bags per 1,000 square ft. is based upon the net area of the space to be insulated.

Blow-in insulation is highly compressed in the bag. The blowing machine is designed to open up the insulation material, fluff it, and then blow it out through the hose at the rate you set to achieve the specified coverage and R-value. A useful guide for installing the proper amount of blow-in insulation is to mentally divide the space into four equal parts. Then you can figure how many bags should go into each quarter of the space. For example, if you have 24 bags of insulation, you would blow six bags into each of the quadrants.

Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors, or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures.