Residential ConstructionUnit 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