The Evolution of Home Construction

There have been many improvements in home construction due to improved concepts (House-as-a-system); improved and advanced construction techniques; quieter, safer and more efficient mechanical systems; and advanced framing techniques and pre-engineered systems / components. Our understanding of how all the components of a home work together has lead to better building practices, new codes and standards, and better products and higher quality materials. This has resulted in better quality homes that are built faster with less waste, last longer, are more energy efficient, and are more comfortable to live in.

As you renovate existing homes, it may help to know what types of insulation were popular during different eras and their corresponding R-values:

Main House Construction Eras

Pre 1940s

Basic Building Materials Used

Insulation Types

Site-mixed concrete
Brick
Rough-cut lumber, logs

None
Newspaper
Seaweed
Loose Straw/Straw bales
Cellulose
Vermiculite/Asbestos
Wood chips
Rock/slag fibre
Pine needles

1940s - 1960s

Basic Building Materials Used

Insulation Types

Site-mixed concrete
Brick
Rough-cut lumber

Vermiculite/Asbestos (more common)
Glass fibre batts

Ready-mix concrete
Brick
Pre-cut studs and lumber
Engineered trusses
Vapour retarder

Glass fibre batts
Loose attic insulation
Spray-foam (rarely used until 1970s)

1960s-1980s

The 1960s and 1970's is the era and which building a home with fully insulated walls became a mainstream practice. Before this era it was more climate/ location specific.

Basic Building Materials Used	Insulation Types
Ready-mixed concrete Brick Pre-cut studs and lumber ICF - Insulated concrete forms Prefabricated wood panels	Glass fibre batts Blown-in insulation Cellulose or glass fibre Rigid foam boards Spray-foam

1980s - 2000s

Basic Building Materials Used	Insulation Types
Ready-mixed concrete Brick Pre-cut studs and lumber Advanced framing techniques ICF - Insulated concrete forms Prefabricated wood panels	Glass fibre batts Blown-in insulation Cellulose or glass fibre Rigid foam boards Spray-foam

R-Values/inch of Older Insulation Types:

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