Household insulators of heat?

Question

Can people suggest some household materails that are good instulators of heat. Nothing like loft insulation, things like cotton wool. Only because I have a project to make a small house and insulate it and wondered what peoples opinions of good insulators are.

Cheers

Answer 1

you stated "household materials". Best thing is to build it below ground level. Want it above ground- Cover in dirt, plant grass on top.

Answer 2

As suggested, lining the walls with aluminium foil (shiny side in) will reduce radiant heat loss. If the walls are of a cavity type (which most modern houses are) filling the cavity with either cotton wool or shreaded kitchen roll will prevent convection withing the cavity. Lining the outside of the wall with ceramic (hence why houses are built with bricks and breeze blocks - in addition to them being cheap) will also prevent conductive heat loss as ceranic is one of the poorest thermal conductors readily available in the home.

Answer 3

Don't overlook aluminum foil. By placing aluminum foil shiny-side-in you basically completely remove radiant heat loss. Gram for gram, nothing insulates better than a nice shiny layer.

Styrofoam sheets would be a good way to block conductive heat loss in the walls, and they can be structural too.

Answer 4

One of the best, in terms of insulation value and ease in fabricating, would be styrofoam panels. Panels could be purchased from a hobby store or building supply and can be fashioned with a sharp blade and glued together.

Answer 5

Newspaper is ideal, the thin air gaps between the sheets of paper provides great insulation.

Answer 6

Rock-wool is a very good one.

Styro-foam sheets.

Fill cavities with Perlite - small styro-foam balls or pellets.

Thick cardboard - multi sheets if necessary.

Answer 7

Felt
bubble wrap
polystyrene foam
foam plastic sheet

Answer 8

i would line the cavity with kitchen foil and then something fibrous like cotton wool or rockwool