Nowadays, many homeowners in Ontario are turning to green options when doing home improvements and that is because they understand the impact their choices have on the environment. When you install insulation in an attic or in an existing closed wall, it most likely is blown-in cellulose insulation. This type of insulation, with an attic, is just one option along with other popular alternatives, batt insulation, spray foam, fiberglass, etc. By far the blowing in loose-fill cellulose insulation is still the most environmental, practical, and cost-effective method.
What is Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is a type of loose insulation made of 75 to 85 percent of recycled material or content mainly newspaper. In comparison to other insulation materials, cellulose is more eco friendly. This type of insulation since it is available as a loose-fill product requires a specialized machine to blow into place. Cellulose insulation can be installed on open attic floors, in existing walls, and more. Its chemical treatment provides it with permanent fire resistance and that’s why many professionals consider cellulose to be more fire-resistant than fiberglass. It has a strong R-Value 3.5 per inch and it can greatly improve your house comfort levels and energy efficiency.
Cellulose insulation is not dangerous and it doesn’t pose health risks to a house’s inhabitants. A proper installation combined together with air sealing will improve the air quality of your house. Cellulose insulation has effective acoustic dampening properties, which makes it a great option for reducing unwanted noise within your house. Also, it helps reduce your carbon footprint and improve your house comfort. Its lifespan depends on how and where it was installed, with proper installation cellulose insulation can last for many years.
Is Cellulose Insulation Sustainable Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is sustainable insulation because it is made using recycled material and because of its ability to provide great energy performance for so many years. When properly installed cellulose insulation provides lasting improvements and also it can reduce the need to use other insulation materials. When properly installed, it creates a monolithic blanket in your attic and has the ability to fill nooks, gaps, crannies, etc. Cellulose insulation is also known to lower energy bills 20 to 30 percent more than fiberglass insulation.
In comparison to fiberglass, cellulose is denser and blocks the air better. And as a result, houses will need less electricity for heating in the winter and for air conditioning in the summer. It will allow you to use less energy for the same better result. Cellulose insulation as sustainable insulation offers homeowners an environmentally-friendly way of making home renovations. This means that you can achieve strong energy performance and at the same time shrink the carbon footprint of your home.
Is Cellulose Insulation Better Than Fiberglass?
Today, in the market two most used materials for insulation are fiberglass and cellulose. The first one, fiberglass is more commonly used, but also cellulose has been used a lot in recent years as people tend to lower their energy bills. They both improve the energy efficiency of your house but they do so in different ways.
- Fiberglass insulation has an R-Value of 2.1 – 2,7 while cellulose insulation has an R-Value of 3.5 – 3.7 per inch.
- In comparison to fiberglass insulation, cellulose is 38 percent better at retaining its R-Value across different temperatures.
- Cellulose forms a dense mat that helps in curbing noise coming from outside.
- Cellulose insulation is 38 percent better at air infiltration than fiberglass insulation.
The advantages and disadvantages of both cellulose and fiberglass are very similar, meaning that each material can almost always be used effectively in the same situation.
Is Sustainable Insulation More Expensive?
In fact, sustainable insulation doesn’t need to be more expensive than other types of insulation or traditional insulation. Blown-in cellulose is made to be an affordable option for homeowners because it provides a green, efficient, non-toxic thermal solution that’s worth considering. Its cost varies depending on a few factors. It is important to choose the right material but also the quality of the installation is crucial.
Blown-in cellulose insulation can be installed in new or existing properties. It is possible also to combine multiple types of insulation such as cellulose with spray foam insulation. In this way, you can get both cost savings and energy performance simultaneously. An insulation expert can help you maximize the benefits of each type of insulation, depending on the specific needs of you and your house.
How Cellulose Insulation Works?
Cellulose insulation can be blown as loose-fill in attic cavities, dense packed, and wet spray. As we mentioned above, the most common for homeowners is having cellulose blown-in into space (usually it is done in the attic) using a large hose.
In order to insulate your walls, dense pack cellulose does an excellent job at stopping air movement and it absorbs and releases moisture throughout the seasons.
Cellulose insulation can be wet sprayed and generally, this is done during new construction and it will give you the same benefits as dense-packing insulation.
It is very important to hire someone who has experience in installing cellulose because when it is installed properly will not settle in the building cavity. Someone who doesn’t have experience may not make it dense enough, which means that the fill will not work properly.
Contact Eco Spray Insulation for Your Next Insulation Installation
Blown-in cellulose is unique insulation that requires specialized installation. Our professional installers are highly trained and experienced, they understand the product, installation, and its complexities of installing. Here at Eco Spray Insulation, we are committed to the highest standard of installation and also we provide satisfactory resolution in the event of any problems or issues. In case you are looking for experts who provide quality services for house improvement projects, then Eco Spray Insulation is the best team for you.
If you would like to have one of our insulation experts inspect the insulation in your house, Eco Spray Insulation offers homeowners free insulation estimates to help you to get started. We install quality products and provide a fully comprehensive approach, that includes insulation and air sealing. Contact us at 1-416-860-6664, or by email at [email protected] and our Professional Team will be happy to assist you.
