Home Insulation Guide

Home insulation buying guide

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In this article, Canstar Blue discusses some house insulation basics, including what you need to know to get started.

Want to reduce your power bill without losing your cool? Home insulation can be a cost-effective solution to keeping costs down and your home comfortable all year round.

Home insulation resists heat flowing in and out of your house, helping to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter. But how do you go about installing insulation in your home? And what type of insulation is best for you? We explore all your options in this buying guide.

What is insulation?

Insulation is a type of material that slows or prevents the flow of heat in or out of a building. It is often used in ceilings, walls and floors to help minimise the need for excessive heating or cooling. A variety of materials can be used as insulation such as wool, polyester, foam boards, fiberglass and cardboard.

Types of home insulation

There are two main types of insulation in Australia: bulk insulation and reflective insulation.

Bulk insulation (pictured below) works by trapping air inside tiny bubbles which help resist the flow of heat in and out of your home. It can come in rolls, boards and batts (a large rectangle of insulation). Bulk insulation is produced from a variety of materials such as glass wool, polyester, cellulose fibre and recycled paper and is the most common type of insulation on the market.

Bulk Insulation

Reflective insulation (pictured below) works by deflecting radiant heat, making it suitable for hot and sunny climates. It’s pretty much a layer of aluminium foil laminated onto paper or plastic. It can either be installed independently within walls or just below the roof. It can also be attached to bulk insulation for effective ‘hybrid insulation’.

Reflective Insulation

A third option known as ‘spray insulation’ may also be available. As the name suggests, this is applied by spraying a solution in the ceiling, floor or walls that bubbles into a thick layer of insulation.

What are the benefits of home insulation?

House insulation has a myriad of benefits, which is largely why this practical home climate solution has become the standard for new households. Mainly, it helps to:

  • Improve home comfort: Insulation balances your home’s temperature to a comfortable climate – not too hot or too cold.
  • Reduce energy costs: Home insulation reduces the strain on your air conditioner or heater by helping keep the cool or warm air in. This means your appliances use less energy.
  • Reduce noise pollution: Some types of insulation have properties that help soundproof your home.

The only downside to house insulation is the obvious installation cost. Depending on the size of your home, type of insulation and the costs of your installation company, installing insulation can set you back quite a bit.

Compare cheap electricity plans now

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

What is an insulation R-Value?

The R-Value is the measurement used for an insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the insulation’s R-Value, the better that product is at insulating your home. There are three types of insulation R-Values to be mindful of:

  • ‘Up’ R-Value: Measures insulation’s resistance to heat flow out of the house. This is also known as a ‘winter’ R-Value because you want a high Up R-Value in winter to keep the heat in.
  • ‘Down’ R-Value: Measures insulation’s resistance to heat flow into the house. This is also known as a ‘summer’ R-Value because you want a high Down R-Value in summer to keep the heat out.
  • Total R-Value: A combination of the Up and Down R-Values.

The level of insulation required for any one property will differ greatly depending on the climate, building type and types of heating and cooling appliances or devices to be used in the dwelling.

You do, however, at least have to follow the minimum requirements for R-Values when building new properties as outlined by the National Construction Code (NCC) and the New South Wales Government’s Building Sustainability Index (BASIX).


Building a new property? See what other minimum energy efficiency requirements you may need with Canstar Blue’s guide to NatHERS Ratings in Australia.


How to install home insulation

While you may be allowed to install some kinds of installation yourself in some states and territories, it is best to enlist help from a licensed professional.

A licensed professional can help to ensure you are using quality products and installing insulation safely and in accordance with the minimum requirements outlined by the NCC and BASIX.

Which companies install insulation in Australia?

There are a few brands in Australia that install insulation products. Some of these include:

  • Affordable Insulation
  • Amelior Insulation
  • Fletcher Insulation
  • Higgins Insulation
  • Insulation Easy Australia
  • Pricewise Insulation
  • Pro-Fit Insulation
  • Termico Insulation Services

Please note, some of these insulation installers may only work in select states and territories. Other installers may also be available in your area.

Should I install home insulation?

Thermostat Wooly Hat

House insulation can potentially save hundreds of dollars on your energy bills, so if your home isn’t insulated and you use an air conditioner or heater, the unfortunate reality is that you’re likely wasting energy.

If you already have house insulation, it’s worth checking it every year or so to make sure it’s not sagged or damaged as minor faults in your insulation can have an exponentially negative impact on its effectiveness.

If you’re concerned about the cost of cooling or heating your home, make sure your cooling system is properly cleaned and running correctly, or upgrade to a more energy efficient model if necessary. If you haven’t compared electricity plans in a while, it could also be the case that you’re paying too much for power to begin with. You can start comparing providers with Canstar Blue via the link below.

Original Author: Brendon O’Neill

Kelseigh Wrigley
Energy Specialist
Kelseigh Wrigley covers Australia's retail energy market, growing her industry specific expertise over the last 2 years. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology and has contributed her skills to online publications Hunter & Bligh and local radio station 4ZZZ.

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