- Roll insulation generically describes any insulation purchased in a roll. These rolls look like carpet and unfurl in much the same manner. Builders generally use roll insulation to cover large surfaces, such as floors. This process entails placing the roll at one end of a surface, securing the end of the roll in place and unrolling the insulation across the surface, securing it at even intervals with nails, staples or some other adhesive. Ostensibly, you can use roll insulation on any surface, though rolling material up a wall presents its share of difficulties.
- Sheet insulation generically describes any insulation purchased in sheets. The word "sheet" with regards to insulation describes any piece of insulation available in a specific size and shape, such as a 2-foot-by-2-foot square or a 2-foot-by-4-foot rectangle. Hard sheet insulation is more commonly known as board insulation, while soft sheet insulation is more commonly known as blanket insulation. This type of insulation exists primarily to fit into spaces within walls and floors between elements of a building’s frame. You install sheets individually, as needed, throughout your home.
- Whether you use an insulation roll or four sheets for your job depends upon the needs of your job. If you need insulation to cover one large flat surface and you can find a roll large enough for the job, use the roll. Installing four sheets of insulation over a surface can leave gaps between the pieces of material – rolls provide one solid, flat surface area. If you need to fill small individual compartments, use four individual sheets rather than a single roll. Sheets fit readily into the space between beams in walls or floor frames, while rolls require cutting and shaping for use in such applications.
- A number of considerations affect how well insulation works. Because roll insulation and sheet insulation may describe any insulating material found in these formats, the performance of a roll may differ significantly from a sheet. Rolls come in materials like mineral wool, fiberglass and rubber, as do sheets. Sheets can also come in rigid materials like gypsum or fiberboard. For the best measure of insulation’s performance, check it’s R-value. R-value describes insulation’s ability to insulate – the higher the R-value, the better it works.
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