Even if you must remove most or all of the insulation, it's sometimes possible to dry out and replace the same fibers—that is, after you thoroughly clean and dry the mold-damaged space.
In an ideal circumstance, cellulose insulation should take around 24-48 hours to dry.
The material is designed to fill space with the “fluff” of the fibers to prevent voids and air pockets. When the fibers become wet to an excessive level, their weight increases, and the material will slowly compress and settle.
Blown-in insulation is affordable, efficient, and eco-friendly. Environmentally-friendly cellulose insulation provides top of the line energy efficiency at competitive rates. It adds another level of fire resistance as well as resistance to pests and moisture problems.
Well, technically speaking, mold doesn't grow directly on insulation, but settles there after falling from roof sheathing, or grows on dust on top of the insulation.
Even if you must remove most or all of the insulation, it's sometimes possible to dry out and replace the same fibers—that is, after you thoroughly clean and dry the mold-damaged space.
Fiberglass insulation, a man-made mineral fiber constructed from a variety of materials, such as sand and recycled glass, is the most popular form of insulation in the United States -- more than 90 percent of homes in America are lined with the pink stuff [source: Spencer and Gulick].
Between spray foam and blown-in cellulose, which is better? Both spray foam and blown-in cellulose insulation have their advantages. Spray foam has a higher R-value, so it's the more effective insulator.
Unless your home is relatively new, you will almost certainly benefit from installing blown insulation in your attic. It will make your home a more comfortable place to be in summer and winter, decrease the cost of your energy bills, and increase the value of your home.
Cons of Cellulose Insulation
It generates a lot of dust during installation. It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value. Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling. It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.
Fiberglass, a non-biodegradable substance is resistant to mold. With its sharp, ground glass, mold spores puncture before they can attach to it. Mold can grow on the fiberglass insulation backing, which is made of paper and is a mold food source. Fiberglass insulation without backing may be the best choice.
Will cavity wall insulation dry out? The answer is actually yes. It does take a long time because the materials that you use for cavity wall insulation are extremely poor at moving moisture around and allowing themselves to dry out.
At 3.5 per inch of material, the R-value of blown-in cellulose is 23% better per inch than fiberglass batts! According to research done at the Oak Ridge National Lab, fiberglass loses up to 50% of its R-value in very cold conditions; making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.
While you can construct dams around recessed lights that aren't IC-rated to keep insulation away from them, you can't cover them with plywood. Doing so can cause them to overheat. Don't install a moisture barrier on top of the insulation.
Expert contractors that specialize in insulation advise that removing old fiberglass insulation is best before installing new cellulose insulation because of possible mildew, mold, or rodent excrement.
Closed cell spray foam should be 4- to 5- inches on the ceiling and 2- to 3-inches in the walls. This might come as a surprise to you, but honestly, this is all the spray foam it takes to get the biggest bang for your buck with the air seal and thermal resistance needed for certain areas of the home.
The R-value of open cell spray foam is about 3.5 per inch, although the R-value can be different depending on the product. Open cell spray foam has a low density and is many times applied in interior walls and areas that are hard to reach in a home.
On the insulation manufacturers label on every bag you'll find that for an R-25 you'll need 28 bags per 1000 sq ft. So if you have 2100 sq ft, take 28 x 2 = 56 bags for 2000 sq ft. For the last 100 sq ft, take 1/10 x 28 bags = 3 additional bags rounded up.
Blown-in cellulose insulation is fire retardant
This is because it is treated with borax, boric acid, and/or ammonium sulfate (all of which are considered non-toxic in this application).
Improperly Installed Attic Insulation Can Make You Sick
They have a sickening odor which can make people ill after long exposure. If your attic insulation was not installed properly, it is important to rectify the problem immediately to avoid serious health problems.
What is white mold? There are many species of mold found in homes that can have a white appearance, such as aspergillus, cladosporium, and penicillum. These molds may also have other colors present as well. Mold will very often appear white when it is first developing and later change color after producing spores.
Cellulose Insulation
The typical lifespan is 20 to 30 years, with degradation beginning as early as 15 years after installation. As with other types of insulation, severe weather or outside interference can reduce the lifespan. Note: cellulose is often used as supplementary insulation.
Because cellulose insulation can absorb and hold moisture, it's especially important to keep walls dry. This is important no matter what the insulation material, but because cellulose is so effective at blocking airflow, wet cellulose won't dry out as quickly as wet fiberglass.
in general, blown-in cellulose insulation, surprisingly, is not found moldy." Both fiberglass and rockwool insulation (inorganic materials) have been tested. In the rockwool insulation tests showed enough nutrients to keep mold spores alive, probably from dust in the mineral fibers.