Things to Know About Blown-in Insulation
Learn about the materials, methods, and costs of this insulation solution to keep your home comfortable and your utility bills low.
An unfinished attic or basement can take a toll on your heating/cooling system and your wallet. The culprit is missing insulation or being under-insulated. Even if you plan on keeping the rooms unused or for storage, they still need to have some form of insulation. Insulation is required to keep the heat inside, the cold outside, and vice versa, depending on the year. Insulation has proper airflow to help keep moisture from building up. Water that’s trapped could cause mold and other problems to grow.
Blown-in insulation fills between existing wall studs and ceiling joists quickly and easily. Blown-in insulation can be added to attics and walls without the hassle as it seals small gaps and spaces after it settles, filling these sneaky spots where cold air would otherwise come in. And in addition to creating an insulating blanket, blown-in insulation helps reduce sound transfer between the outdoors and the indoors, so unwanted street noise will also be softened.
There are three types of blown-in insulation.
The three most common types of blown-in insulation are loose-fill fiberglass, cellulose, and rock wool—each with its pros and cons. Minimum suggested insulation values vary by geographic zones. The higher the thermal resistance (R-value), the greater the insulating effect. Not all types of blown-in insulation offer the same thermal value, but in most cases, even adding a little insulation is better than not adding any at all.
1. Loose-fill Fiberglass:
This light-as-air insulation is manufactured from glass heated to a liquid and spun into thin fibers. When blown into attics and wall spaces, loose-fill fiberglass offers an average R-2.5 thermal value per inch (the higher the number, the greater the insulating effect).
2. Cellulose:
For eco-minded homeowners, cellulose is often the insulation of choice because it’s made from finely shredded recycled cardboard or newspaper. It is also the most common type of blown-in insulation on the market. And it’s chemically treated to resist mold and fire. A downside to cellulose is that if it gets wet (from a leaky roof or pipe). It can lose its fluffiness and become soggy and compacted, which reduces its R-value.
3. Rock Wool:
Also called “mineral wool,” this type of blown-in insulation is made from blast furnace slag (a byproduct of firing iron and iron ore). The slag is heated, combined with other minerals. Then spun into an airy product that resembles the texture of raw sheep’s wool. Rock wool features a thermal value of R-3.3 per inch. Still, it is much more expensive than either loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose. Despite its high price point, due to its excellent fire resistance, rock wool is often called for in areas subject to fire codes, such as a connecting wall between a house and an attached garage or in the floor between garages.
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