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Renovation basics5 min read

A Simple Guide to Insulation Materials for your home

Good insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy costs, improve indoor comfort, and lower the environmental impact of a home. In cold countries, insulation is especially important because of the long heating season and cold winters (if you live in Sweden you know what we mean)

There are several common insulation materials used for walls and roofs, each with different strengths, costs, and environmental impacts. Here is an overview of the most common options used in Swedish homes today.

Mineral Wool (Glass Wool & Stone Wool)

Mineral wool is the most widely used insulation type in Sweden. It is made from melted stone, glass, or industrial minerals that are spun into fibers.

Main advantages

  • Affordable and widely available
  • Good thermal insulation
  • Excellent fire resistance
  • Strong soundproofing performance
  • Easy to install in walls, attics, and roofs

Types

  • Glass wool (glasull): lighter, cheaper, and very common in residential construction
  • Stone wool (stenull): denser, better for fire protection and noise reduction

Typical use cases

  • Exterior walls
  • Attics and pitched roofs
  • Interior sound insulation

Wood Fiber Insulation

Wood fiber insulation is becoming increasingly popular in sustainable Swedish construction. It is made from processed wood fibers and is often used in timber homes.

Main advantages

  • Renewable and bio-based material
  • Comfortable to handle
  • Helps regulate indoor humidity
  • Good sound insulation
  • Suitable for "breathable" wall constructions

Typical use cases

  • Timber frame houses
  • Eco-friendly renovations
  • Roof and wall insulation

Things to consider

Wood fiber is usually more expensive than mineral wool, but many homeowners choose it for environmental and comfort reasons.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is mainly made from recycled newspapers and cardboard treated for fire and moisture resistance. It is one of the fastest-growing insulation alternatives in Sweden.

Main advantages

  • Recycled and environmentally friendly
  • Very good at filling gaps and reducing air leakage
  • Excellent moisture management
  • Better heat storage than many traditional materials, helping homes stay cooler in summer

Typical use cases

  • Attic insulation
  • Renovation of older wooden houses
  • Sustainable new construction

Things to consider

Cellulose is commonly installed as loose-fill insulation using blowing equipment, which usually requires professional installation.

PIR Insulation Boards

PIR (polyisocyanurate) is a high-performance rigid foam insulation often used when space efficiency is important.

Main advantages

  • Extremely high insulation performance
  • Thin insulation layers can achieve very low heat loss
  • Moisture resistant
  • Strong and durable

Typical use cases

  • Passive houses
  • Flat roofs
  • Concrete floors
  • Saunas

Things to consider

PIR is combustible and usually needs protective fire-rated layers such as gypsum boards. It also provides less sound insulation than mineral wool.

PUR Spray Foam

PUR (polyurethane) insulation is closely related to PIR and is especially common as spray foam insulation.

Main advantages

  • Excellent airtightness
  • Expands into gaps and difficult spaces
  • High thermal performance
  • Strong moisture resistance

Typical use cases

  • Attic retrofits
  • Sealing around windows and doors
  • Industrial buildings
  • District heating pipes

Things to consider

PUR is generally more expensive than traditional insulation materials. Fire safety performance is also lower than mineral wool, so correct installation and protection are important.

So, which Insulation is best?

There is no single "best" insulation material for every project. The right choice depends on factors such as:

  • Budget
  • Energy goals
  • Moisture conditions
  • Fire safety requirements
  • Space limitations
  • Sustainability preferences

In many Swedish homes, mineral wool remains the standard option because of its balance between cost and performance. However, wood fiber and cellulose are becoming increasingly popular for environmentally conscious renovations, while PIR and PUR are often selected for high-performance or space-limited projects.

When planning a renovation, it is important to evaluate the full wall or roof system, not only the insulation material itself. Proper installation, ventilation, airtightness, and moisture management all play a major role in the final energy performance of the home.

You can try out our tool in order to compare systems and see how the insulation is one of the main envelope measurements that we suggest before thinking about a new heating system. We´ll write another post about how envelope measures interact with heating systems!