Residential Construction Unit 6 Interior finishes Mr. Todzia

 A material that reduces or prevents the transmission of heat, sound or electricity.

 The units that insulation is measured in called R-value.  R-value is resistance to Heat Loss.  The higher the r-value, the more the material resist heat loss, so the better it is as an insulator.

 Batts/blankets  Rigid Foam  Loose fill  Spray foam

 Batts of insulation are the most common type of insulation we see in New England.  Typically made from fiberglass.  It is usually pink and looks like cotton candy.  Do not eat!  It has an r-value of 3.7 per inch of thickness, so a 3 ½ inch thick batt of insulation has a value of about R-13.

 Polystrene, typically referred to as Rigid foam board insulation  Usually seen in blue or pink colors.  Has an r-value of about 4 per inch of thickness.  This means if you have a 2 inch thick board of Rigid Foam, it would have an r-value of 8.

 Loose-fill insulation consists of small particles of fiber, foam, or other materials.  These small particles form an insulation material that can conform to any space without disturbing any structures or finishes.  This ability to conform makes loose-fill insulation well suited for retrofits and for places where it's difficult to install some other types of insulation.

 There are 3 main types of loose fill:  Cellulose- is primarily made from recycled newsprint  Fiberglass-contains 20%–30% recycled glass.  Rock/mineral wool- is usually produced from 75% post-industrial recycled content.

 Icenyne insulation, commonly referred to as spray foam is an expansive foam that is sprayed into walls and cavities to provide a very high r-value and tight building envelope.  It is the best insulation available today.  It has a very high, (25% more) upfront cost, but the payback period is minimal from the energy savings you get.  It must be installed by licensed professionals.

 The most common insulation, the fiberglass batts, can be installed by anyone.  It has a paper side with a flap on each side that can be stapled to the wood studs of the walls to be insulated.  A very thorough job must be done or there will be weak points, or areas of air infiltration and heat loss.

 After wiring, plumbing and insulation are installed and inspected, the walls can be covered over with some type of wall board.  There are a few options, but the most common type is usually some type of Gypsum wall board, commonly referred to as Drywall, or sheet rock.

 There are a few different types, but they are essentially the same product in slightly different applications.  ½ drywall (most common- used in probably 90% or the house) It is usually grey in color.  Moisture resistant (MR) drywall. Used in bathrooms and anywhere the walls might come in contact with water or moisture.  Fire code drywall- looks similar to regular ½ inch, but is thicker, usually 5/8 of an inch.  Plaster wall board- usually ½ thick, but blue in color. It is used as a wall board if there will be a plaster layer applied

 Sheetrock is finished by a process called taping in which a material called joint compound is spread over a paper like tape that covers the seams and corners of the sheetrock.  See video

 After taping is completed and dried, a drywall primer should be applied with a brush and roller.  When the primer is dry, the finished wall color can be painted on with a brush and roller.

 After the drywall is painted, and window & doors are installed, trim can be installed.  There are a few terms you should be familiar with:  Casing- the trim around windows and doors.  Apron- the trim piece under the window sill.  Sill (also called stool)- window sill or shelf-like trim board at the interior bottom of a window

 Baseboard- the trim around the bottom of the wall.  Chair rail- the trim piece at the top of a wainscoting.  Wainscoting- a trim detail where some type of paneling is applied to a lower third(+/-) of a wall.  Crown molding- a trim board that borders the top of the wall and ceiling.  Quarter round- various uses- usually to cover a gap  Scotia, or cove molding- used under something to give a finished look.

 Trim is usually cut on a chop/miter saw and a table saw.  The joints are usually joined with wood glue and nails.  Nailing is typically done with pneumatic trim nailers/guns.

 The finished surface upon which one walks.  Installed over the plywood subfloor.  There are endless options for flooring:  Wood- hardwood or softwood  Tile  Carpet  Vinyl  Click together  Engineered

 Each type of flooring has specific installation methods, tools and techniques.  Wood floors are usually installed by carpenters.  Most flooring boards are tongue and groove and are laid sequentially, nailing with a staple hammer through the tongue of the board.  See video