Cellulose insulation, which is a low-thermal-conductivity material, is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught proof and reduce noise. Cellulose insulation is often made by hammer milling waste newspaper. The newspaper is treated with chemicals, such as boric acid, to delay the spread of fire. Dry cellulose is used in retrofitting old homes by blowing the cellulose with a machine. This form of application does settle as much as 20% but the stated R-value of the cellulose is accurate after settling occurs.
Cellulose is very good at fitting around items in walls like pipes, tubing and wiring, leaving few air pockets that can reduce the overall efficiency of the wall. Cellulose insulation lost 26.4% less heat energy over time compared to the fiberglass insulation. It also was shown to tighten the structure more than 30%. Subsequent real world surveys have cellulose insulation performing 20-30% more efficient at reducing energy used for heating than fiberglass. The annual savings from insulating with cellulose vary widely and depend on several factors, including insulation thickness, original wall performance, local climate, heating/cooling use, air tightness of other building elements and so on. Another interesting fact about cellulose insulation is the borates in cellulose insulation provide added control against mold.
If you are interested in adding blown cellulose insulation to your home, give us a call today, 937.833.5136. One of our professional representatives will gladly assist you in any questions or concerns that you may have, while also giving you a free, no obligations, in home estimate. Feel free to give us a call and let Thrush & Son be your first and last call for home improvements.
