Common Attic Insulation Problems and How to Solve Them

Which Insulation Is Best Suited for My Home- Spray Foam, Cellulose, or Fiberglass?

Now that you have the first step out of the way, knowing that your home needs insulation, here comes the tough part - do you use spray foam, cellulose, or fiberglass?

 

Choosing the right insulation for your home can be a daunting task as you take into consideration the cost, effectiveness, and longevity of the materials. 

 

Pro Insulation Contracting wants to provide our customers with as much information so they are able to make an educated, informed decision. 

 

Spray Foam, Cellulose, or Fiberglass

Fiberglass Insulation

You may have seen fiberglass insulation before when walking through Home Depot or another home improvement store. It’s the rolled-up pink stuff that resembles cotton candy.

 

Fiberglass insulation is pre-cut containing layers of spun glass fibers that fit between exterior walls or the attic. Standard fiberglass insulation has an R-value between 2.7-3 per inch of thickness. 

 

Benefits?

 

1. Easy Installation

Thanks to the pre-cut fiberglass batts, no special tools are required for installation. Any insulation contractor can handle this non-demanding installation.

 

Simply, contractors would come in, and add additional batts on top of existing insulation to reach the recommended height, which is 21”.

 

2. Low Cost

Fiberglass is always readily available and easy to find on the market. We like to source our materials from Johns Manville which manufactures residential insulation products that aid in maintaining energy efficiency, while simultaneously lowering heating and cooling costs in your home year round.

 

3. Flame Retardant

What differentiates fiberglass insulation from other types is the fact that it does not burn!

 

4. Increases Energy Efficiency

Fiberglass insulation slows down the spread of cool and warm air by trapping pockets of air.  This allows the warm air to stay in your home during the winter, and the cool air in the summer. 

Cellulose Insulation

This type of insulation is blown-in, similar to fiberglass insulation. Once installed, cellulose insulation resembles freshly fallen snow as it is composed of loose particles of paper and cloth, which is treated with boric acid to increase fire resistance.

 

Due to its composition of loose particles, cellulose insulation has superior coverage, eliminating the need for any custom-sized pieces. Standard cellulose insulation has an R-value of  3.4-3.8 per inch of thickness, with a depth of 17” to ensure the heat is kept in properly.

 

Benefits?

 

1. High Thermal Resistance (R-Value)

Products that have a higher R-value produce the GREATEST amount of savings on heating and cooling costs when properly installed by a certified insulation contractor.

 

2. Environmentally Friendly

Did you know that wastepaper is one of the biggest solid waste disposal issues for several communities? In 1994, reports indicated that the cellulose insulation manufacturing industry used 840 million pounds of recycled, post-consumer newspaper!

 

In other words, cellulose insulation is composed of 80% or MORE of recycled materials. This makes cellulose the only type of insulation with the highest recycled content. 

 

3. Cost-Effective

Cellulose insulation conserves energy by significantly reducing fuel consumption. If you want to have a green home and have a HUGE increase in savings, cellulose is the way to go.

Spray Foam Insulation

This insulation type, spray polyurethane foam,  was first introduced in the ‘80s as a popular insulation option. It is simply formed by mixing two liquid components together. which, in turn, produce a chemical reaction as it is sprayed onto the surface. 

 

Closed-cell and open-cell are the two available types of spray foam insulation. Closed-cell is the affordable option, while open-cell provides better water resistance, superior performance, and higher strength.

 

Benefits?

 

1. Increases the Structural Integrity

Since spray foam is incredibly dense, it acts as a glue with strong adhesive qualities. Essentially, it glues building materials together. This allows for additional strength to be provided to houses or commercial buildings. 

 

2. Reduces Sound

Thanks to the invention of spray foam, you don’t hear any outside noises such as traffic or sounds from your neighbours allowing for a peaceful sleep at night. How is this possible?

 

Spray foam fills all cracks and crevices, minimizing any sound entering the house. If properly installed, spray foam will absorb the sound waves, while soundproofing your walls!

 

3. Improves Air Quality Indoors

The air quality is significantly improved by minimizing dust, mildew, mold, pollen, and other indoor allergens. Most consumers believe that these allergens enter the home through open windows or doors; however, these pollutants actually enter your home through the walls.

 

If you are searching for an insulation that will reduce chemical sensitivities or respiratory problems such as asthma, consider spray foam as a non-toxic option!

Do you know which insulation type you want to go with, or do you still have some questions? No worries! We are here to help you throughout this process.

 

Call us at 416-315-0471, or fill out our contact form here, and one of our customer representatives will reach out to you within 24-48 hours!

 

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