The most common types of materials used for loose-fill insulation include cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral (rock or slag) wool. All of these materials are produced using recycled waste materials.
Fiberglass batts are one of the most popular insulations. Contractors use them throughout home builds. Homeowners opt for fiberglass for many DIY projects.
Fiberglass. Fiberglass consists of extremely fine glass fibers and is one of the most ubiquitous insulation materials. It's commonly used in many different forms of insulation: blanket (batts and rolls), loose-fill, and is also available as rigid boards and duct insulation.
The Bottom Line About Blown-In Insulation Materials
Blown-in fiberglass is mainly composed of fine glass and plastic fibers with a few chemical additives. Blown-in cellulose is made of cellulose materials like recycled paper.
R-value is used to judge thermal insulation performance and the higher the number, the better the product's insulating ability. So R19 has better insulating ability than R13. Now R-Value ranges widely across products and home applications.
You will want to bring up your attic up to R-38:
If your attic has 5-6″ of existing insulation, you'll want to install an R-19 to achieve a total of R-38.
For walls, r13 insulation is a good choice in most instances, and because your basement is below the ground, there's some natural protection from the earth around it.
The best non-toxic insulation is either mineral wool or foam insulation inserts.
Budget: If you're working with a limited budget, blown-in cellulose might be the better option due to its lower installation cost. Energy Efficiency: If your priority is the highest possible energy efficiency, you may want to consider spray foam, particularly closed-cell foam.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam also offers a high R-value per inch, but while spray foam insulation has a lot of benefits, it is also one of the most expensive types of insulation. Professional installation is recommended to ensure that the foam is applied evenly, effectively, and safely.
Blown-In Insulation Used In New Home Construction
In new home construction, blown-in insulation can refer to cellulose or fiberglass insulation. Blown-in fiberglass is made of the same material as fiberglass batts but is in a loose fill form. Cellulose insulation is composed of recycled paper material.
Thermablok® Aerogel is a revolutionary advancement in thermal technology offering the thinnest insulation available to prevent thermal and cold bridging. Classed as a Super Insulation, Aerogel has the highest insulation value of any known material with the lowest thermal conductivity value of any solid (0.015W/mK).
In older homes, you'll often find insulation materials like cellulose (made from recycled paper), rock wool, or even horsehair. Fiberglass became popular in the mid-20th century due to its affordability and ease of installation, but it wasn't always the go-to choice.
Air Leakage
Fiberglass insulation is less dense than other types of insulation and does not create an airtight seal, which means air can travel freely through the insulation. This is called air leakage and it's one of the most common sources of energy loss in a house.
If you'd like to install the insulation, rent a blow-in insulation machine from Lowe's.
Fiberglass insulation typically needs to be replaced 15-20 years into it's life, as it can easily become dirty, wet, moldy, and ineffective if there's a roof leak or water damage of any kind.
Spray foam insulation is a good insulator in terms of keeping a room warm or cool. But its many downsides outweigh the benefits. These include, making it more difficult getting a mortgage, potential health issues, environmental damage, ventilation issues and a lower home valuation.
Rolled insulation generally has a lower upfront cost than blown insulation. However, blown insulation tends to have a higher R-value, meaning it can provide superior attic insulation, creating potential for cost savings on heating and cooling bills in the long term.
House insulation: The most effective insulation
So having in mind that spray foam, fiberglass, and cellulose are the three mostly used insulation materials we made a comparison, and here are the results: Spray foam has by far the highest R-value, which is crucial for homes in extremely cold climates.
Also, when laying down additional insulation, work from the perimeter toward the attic opening. Never lay insulation over recessed light fixtures or soffit vents. Keep all insulation at least 3 inches away from recessed "can" lights, unless they are rated IC (Insulated Ceiling).
Yes, it is possible to put too much insulation in a loft or attic.
You can choose from different materials like cellulose (made from recycled paper), fiberglass, or mineral wool. Cellulose is an eco-friendly and cost-effective insulation for attics. Fiberglass and mineral wool are also popular choices because they are good at keeping heat in or out and resist moisture and pests.
You can use both in similar places and climates. R15 insulation offers slightly more thermal resistance than R13 insulation, but it also costs more. Ultimately, it's difficult to justify paying a significantly higher price for R15 when R13's insulative properties are only slightly lower than R15.
All you'll need is a few staples and your wall is insulated. Its thermal insulation performance (R-13) compliments an interior wall assembly nicely (for exterior walls we do suggest blown-in or R20).
PFT installation expert Jared explains that you are not required to tape the seams of PFT insulating sheathing and fanfold underlayments. However, we do recommend that you check with your local building codes for your specific application.