Insulation
Terms and Definitions
Learn these words and you will be able to understand your contractor.
Ever wonder what some of the technical terms
used in home repair and renovation mean? Here are many of the words that you will need to
know that are used
in home building and do-it-yourself projects.
Acoustical tile - Special tile for walls
and ceilings made of mineral, wood, vegetable
fibers, cork, or metal. Its purpose is to
control sound volume while providing cover. Also
Known As: acoustic tile, sound-absorbing tile
Batt - Insulation in the form of a
blanket, rather than loose filling.
Building paper - Heavy paper used in
walls or roofs to damp proof.
Cavity wall - A hollow wall formed by
firmly linked masonry walls, providing an
insulating air space between.
Fill-type insulation -Loose insulating
material which is applied by hand or blown into
wall spaces mechanically.
Flashing - Non-corrosive metal used
around angles or junctions in roofs and exterior
walls to prevent leaks.
Moisture barrier -Treated paper or metal
that retards or bars water vapor, used to keep
moisture from passing into walls or floors
R-Value -A measure of the capacity of a
material (or assembly of materials) to resist
heat transfer, sometimes called thermal
resistance. The R-Value is the reciprocal of the
heat transfer coefficient (U-Value). The larger
the R-Value, the greater its insulating
properties.
Sandwich panel - A panel with plastic,
paper, or other material enclosed between two
layers of a different material.
Solar heat gain - The amount of energy
that a building absorbs due to solar energy
striking its exterior and conducting to the
interior or passing through windows and being
absorbed by materials in the building.
U-Value - The heat transfer coefficient
of a material or an assembly of materials. It is
measured in terms of Btu per hour, per square
foot of area, per degree of temperature
difference across the material. The reciprocal
of the U-value is the thermal resistance or
R-Value. The lower the U-value number, the
greater the heat transfer resistance
(insulating) characteristics of the material or
assembly of materials.
Vapor barrier - Material such as paper,
metal or paint which is used to prevent vapor
from passing from rooms into the outside walls.
Weather stripping - Metal, wood, plastic
or other material installed around door and
window openings to prevent air infiltration.
Weep hole - A small hole in a wall which
permits water to drain off.
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