# Canada's best Insulation Services
Blown-in Insulation
Blown-In Insulation Overview
Blown-in insulation ranks among the three most popular insulation materials, alongside fiberglass and mineral wool. Homeowners often choose it for the ceiling and walls of modern homes due to its effective insulating properties.
Blown-In Insulation: Pros and Cons of Cellulose
If you’re planning to insulate a new home or upgrade your existing insulation, blown-in insulation is an option worth considering. However, before making your decision, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of cellulose insulation.
Made primarily from recycled newsprint and denim, cellulose is eco-friendly and biodegradable. It is also fire-resistant, mold-resistant, inexpensive, and has a high R value.
Understanding Blown-In Cellulose Insulation
Blown-in cellulose insulation offers both benefits and drawbacks, which are closely tied to the material’s properties and the way it is manufactured and installed. In addition, different types of cellulose insulation are available on the market.
Factors Affecting the Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of blown-in cellulose insulation depend largely on the type you choose and how (and where) it’s applied. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the specific features of the insulation before making a decision.
What Is Cellulose Insulation?
To fully understand the topic, you need to know a bit about what cellulose is, where it comes from, and how it functions as an insulation material. This knowledge will help you make an informed decision about the best insulation option for your needs.
Pros of blown in insulation
2.It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value.
3.It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.
4.It is resistant to pests, mold, and mildew.
5.It is very affordable.
Cons of blown in insulation
2.Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling.
3.Boron, a chemical needed for treating cellulose insulation, is currently in short supply.
4.This material absorbs moisture easily.
5.All types of cellulose insulation require a vapor barrier.
Introduction to Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation, one of the oldest insulation materials, continues to be used today. Although it has been around for over a century, it gained widespread popularity in the 1950s when manufacturers added fire-retardant chemicals like ammonium sulfate and boric acid to the material.
Uses of Cellulose Insulation
Insulating Attic Floors and Enclosed Walls
Homeowners frequently choose cellulose to insulate unfinished attic floors and enclosed walls. It remains a popular option for existing buildings because you can install it without needing to remove any walls.
Blown-In Insulation
You can blow loose-fill cellulose insulation into wall or attic cavities using specialized blowing machines. The tiny plant fibers form an effective insulating material that conforms to most structures and spaces, without disturbing the finish.
Benefits of Cellulose Insulation
Soundproofing and Draftproofing
Cellulose insulation boosts soundproofing and draftproofing in your home, enhancing overall comfort.
High R-Value and Energy Efficiency
Cellulose insulation offers a high R-value, meaning it resists heat flow effectively. This helps keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
Material Composition and Environmental Impact
Made from Recycled Paper
Manufacturers produce cellulose insulation mainly from recycled paper, including newsprint, cardboard, and other paper products. The wood fibers’ cellular structure naturally resists heat flow.
Recycling and Environmental Benefits
Today, more than 70% of cellulose insulation is made from recycled materials. By installing cellulose insulation in a 1,500-square-foot home, you can recycle as much newspaper as one person consumes in over 40 years.
Reducing Waste
If all new homes used cellulose insulation, we would remove over three million tons of discarded newsprint from the waste stream annually.
Protection and Durability
Fire, Mold, and Pest Resistance
Cellulose insulation undergoes treatment with non-toxic chemicals like borax, ammonium sulfate, and boric acid. These treatments help prevent pests, mold, and fire, making it a durable and safe option for your home.
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Cellulose Insulation: A Sustainable Choice
More than 70% of cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper, which means vast amounts of discarded newspaper and cardboard are put to good use during manufacturing.
Efficient Recycling Process
The recycling process for cellulose insulation differs from typical paper recycling. Unlike other recycling methods that use bleaching to remove ink, cellulose insulation does not require bleaching. Instead, the paper is shredded and pulverized, making the process more energy-efficient and requiring fewer chemicals.
Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing
No greenhouse gases are used as propellants during the manufacturing of cellulose insulation. Additionally, it contains more recycled material than any other type of insulation available today, making it a highly sustainable option.
R-Value and Heat Resistance of Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation boasts an R-value of 3.2 to 3.5 per inch of thickness, which surpasses fiberglass and other common insulating materials. This high rating is due to its composition, as cellulose is made from paper, which contains wood fiber.
Wood Fiber’s Role in Heat Resistance
Wood’s cellular structure plays a key role in cellulose’s ability to resist heat flow and prevent air leakage. As a result, cellulose insulation ranks among the most heat-resistant materials available.
Energy Efficiency Benefits
Thanks to its heat resistance, cellulose insulation helps keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Consequently, you can minimize energy consumption and reduce your energy bills throughout the year.
Fire Resistance of Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is treated with non-toxic borate compounds, including boric acid and borax, which make up over 20% of the material by volume. These compounds act as effective flame retardants, making the insulation safer for use in residential spaces.
Historical Addition of Flame Retardants
In the 1950s, manufacturers added these chemicals to cellulose insulation to reduce the fire hazard. Since then, cellulose has become much more fire-resistant, thanks to the protective properties of boric acid and borax.
Flammability Without Chemical Treatment
Without this chemical treatment, cellulose, made from recycled paper, could be quite flammable. However, the addition of boric acid and borax significantly reduces its flammability, improving safety in homes.
Enhanced Fire Resistance in Wet Conditions
Interestingly, wet cellulose becomes doubly resistant to fire due to the presence of water. This unique characteristic further enhances its fire-resistant properties, making it a reliable choice for insulation.
Pest and Mold Resistance in Cellulose Insulation
Chemicals such as ammonium sulfate and boric acid make cellulose insulation unappealing to pests and prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and other organisms. These treatments significantly enhance the material’s resistance to pests and mold.
Health and Hypoallergenic Benefits
This mold resistance ensures that cellulose insulation remains healthy and hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for those allergic to mold spores. As a result, cellulose helps improve indoor air quality, promoting a healthier living environment.
Risks of Mold Exposure
Even for individuals who aren’t allergic to mold, excessive exposure can lead to skin irritation and respiratory issues. Therefore, choosing mold-resistant insulation like cellulose helps reduce these health risks.
Comfort, Safety, and Air Quality Benefits
When installed properly, cellulose insulation enhances comfort, improves indoor air quality, and keeps your home safer from fire hazards. This makes it an excellent choice for homeowners looking to create a healthier, safer, and more comfortable living space.
Cost-Effectiveness of Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is made from relatively inexpensive materials, such as discarded newsprint and cardboard. The hammer-milling process, which is used to manufacture cellulose, is simple and affordable, making cellulose one of the most cost-effective insulation options available.
Affordability and Pricing
Typically, cellulose insulation costs between $0.80 and $1.20 per square foot. This low cost makes it an attractive option for homeowners looking to insulate their properties without breaking the bank.
Ease of Installation
Cellulose insulation is easy to install, further lowering costs. For example, you can blow loose-fill cellulose into attic spaces or wall cavities with the help of a rented blower machine. This simple installation process allows homeowners to complete the task themselves, often over a weekend, requiring only basic equipment like a dust mask and rented machinery
Challenges of Installing Cellulose Insulation
Installing cellulose insulation can create significant dust, debris, and mess, particularly with loose-fill cellulose, which consists mainly of loose fibers. As a result, the installation process can be messy and requires careful preparation.
Precautions During Installation
To protect themselves from dust, installers must wear a certified breathing mask. Additionally, a thorough cleanup process is necessary after the installation to ensure that the area remains clean and safe.
Potential Issues with Furnace Ducts
If your home has a furnace duct system, you may notice that some cellulose dust gets recirculated throughout your living space. This dust circulation can be a concern and may require extra cleaning to maintain air quality.
Sagging and Settling Issues with Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling over time, a problem that is more pronounced due to its weight. Compared to fiberglass, cellulose is several times heavier, which contributes to its susceptibility to gravity.
Impact of Weight on R-Value
The greater weight of cellulose means that it is more affected by gravity than lighter materials, causing the insulation to lose its R-value as it sags and settles. As a result, the insulating effectiveness of cellulose decreases over time.
Gaps and Reduced Efficiency
Sagging can create wide gaps within the wall cavities, reducing cellulose’s ability to insulate effectively. This can lead to significant energy loss and discomfort in the home.
Settling of Modern Cellulose Insulation
Modern cellulose insulation is known to settle by as much as 20%, which can lead to increased energy bills and uncomfortable living conditions. However, wet-spray cellulose tends to be more resistant to settling compared to the dry-blown variety.
Moisture Absorption Issues with Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is highly susceptible to moisture absorption, which can become a serious problem in the event of a burst pipe or plumbing leak. Unlike other insulation materials that retain moisture on the surface, cellulose absorbs it throughout the material.
Impact of Excess Moisture on Cellulose
Cellulose can absorb up to 130% of its weight in moisture. As a result, the material retains water deeply, which can lead to several issues, including settling, deterioration, and mold growth.
Slow Drying and Long-Term Effects
Once cellulose absorbs moisture, it dries very slowly, further exacerbating its susceptibility to damage. This slow drying process can contribute to ongoing moisture-related issues in the home.
Damage to Fire-Resistant Treatment
Excessive moisture absorption can even compromise the chemical fire treatment that makes cellulose insulation so fire-resistant. In this case, the material loses its fire-resistant properties, leading to safety concerns.
