Blow-in cellulose insulation is manufactured from recycled newspaper and treated with borate to render it fireproof and insect-proof. Fifth Problem – Another one of the problems with cellulose insulation is the dust it creates. These types of insulation problems are more common than people realize. Well… not necessarily. 2 But, it irritates the heck out of me when folks say stuff that is not true, particularly salesmen. The right type of attic insulation makes a huge difference for your home's efficiency and comfort, which is why we use blown-in cellulose insulation at First Defense Insulation LLC. I would add more fiberglass insulation to the top of what you already have as it will not compress as much as cellulose does. Loose fill fiberglass, by comparison, provides an R-value of 2.2 to 2.7 per square inch. Dense packing cellulose insulation into a wall or floor creates a continuous even layer of insulation. Insulation is your first defense in mold prevention. The Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (CIMA) claims that insulating a 1500 square foot house with cellulose will recycle as much newspaper as an individual will consume in 40 years. This can be a serious health issue. Dan Lea Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association Cellulose Insulation Installation in DFW Metroplex Fix your attic efficiency problems with blown cellulose insulation. The older cellulose fibre will still contain these flammable and corrosive materials. But if you have clumpy fiberglass insulation in your attic now, you may want to check it with a moisture meter before adding anything on top of it. I just had my 15 year old attic insulation (blow cellulose) fully removed and replaced the other day. Is Cellulose Insulation Moisture Resistant? Blown-In Cellulose Pros ⦁ One aspect to consider is air infiltration and in that cellulose is the top choice due to its ability to form a dense mat that allows the air within the insulation to keep moving. It is a loose-fill product that is usually made of recycled paper. This is a blown cellulose insulation problem. Solar Bear can help you solve these problems in your home with quality cellulose insulation installation. Below we have listed all the cellulose fibre insulation R-values. I apologize for the clickbait title, but it seems all of the insulation contractors in my area are very wary of dense-packed cellulose in walls and often say, "we normally don't do cellulose in walls anymore." Cellulose and loose-fill insulation advantages and disadvantages. Cellulose insulation has an average thermal value of R-3.7, so you’d need just over five inches to equal an R-19 batt. Here we bust some of the unfortunate myths and misunderstandings surrounding this type of wall construction. The word cellulose comes from the French word cellule for a living cell and glucose which is a sugar. The insulation settles: As a loose-fill product, cellulose relies on its natural fluffiness to fill the space while leaving insulating air pockets between the fibers. Does that mean you should always just go with cellulose insulation because you can use less of it to achieve the same total R-value? I love cellulose insulation. Cellulose insulation has been the favored insulation for retrofit projects for 50+ years. The right type of attic insulation makes a huge difference for your home's efficiency and comfort, which is why we use blown-in cellulose insulation at Olympic Restoration Systems. insulation performs if air is not moving through it. Cellulose Insulation Installation in Greater Dallas Fort Worth Fix your attic efficiency problems with blown cellulose insulation. Building insulation is low-thermal-conductivity material used to reduce building heat loss and gain and reduce noise transmission. It is said that the amount of cellulose required to cover a given area weighs three times more than loose fiberglass required for that area. Excessive moisture causes the cellulose to sag and settle, an effect that is especially detrimental in wall cavities. Pipes, wires, ductwork and electrical outlets are no problem for cellulose insulation because it is blown into the space is tiny pieces that fill in around the obstacles. As insulation is a long-term investment, it’s natural that residents of Gulf Coast cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge would want a product that is able to withstand humidity and moisture-related problems. It is definitely worth a read. Cellulose insulation is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught proof and reduce free noise. Nowadays, cellulose fibre insulation has taken problems like this into consideration. ⦁ Cellulose has a higher R-Value and even does not lose the value in the extreme cold were fiberglass may. In southern states like Louisiana and Mississippi, humidity poses a problem for homeowners seeking affordable, reliable insulation. Cellulose Insulation in walls will typically be more expensive than fiberglass batts due to higher installation costs. Much to surprise they did not have any kind of filter for the exhaust … Professional insulation contractors know how much each type of cellulose can settle, and they can counteract the phenomenon by installing extra. non conventional insulation like open cell foam insulates and air seals in one step..thus the higher cost to install. Loose cellulose weighs more than the same amount of rockwool or fiberglass. All of the cellulose insulation health risks derive from the composition of the material. Cellulose fibre has a decent R-value. However, all three of these types of attic insulation have common problems associated with their use and installation. No need to be concerned about a shortage of wastepaper to make celllose insulation plus the equipment to process wastepaper into cellulose insulation is not compatible with grinding wood chips. With attic applications, loose-fill cellulose also blocks air convection within the insulation—a process that can significantly reduce the effective R-value of loose-fill fiberglass in very cold regions (see below). The weight of the insulation material may cause problems, especially when it is meant for locations like ceilings. Cellulose Cellulose is … It is treated with chemicals to make it fire-retardant and insect-proof. The more insulation, the better. The material is composed of 75-85% recycled paper fibres that are usually obtained from recycled waste newspaper. The problem is there are many cellulose insulation health risks you need to consider. While most people may not be bothered at all by a little insulation dust in the house, there are thousands of people around the country who are more sensitive than the general population to environmental pollutants. The attic was very spacious and contained two furnaces for upstairs and down stairs. Cellulose insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, though high-density fiberglass can provide higher R-value than cellulose. Most cellulose insulation is composed of 85%+ post consumer recycled content so I don't believe that fiberglass matches or exceeds the post consumer recycled content of cellulose insulation. During the removal the company vacuumed it out to a dumpster in the driveway. 1 In fact, I love all insulations. Cellulose insulation is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a nuisance dust, defined by irritation of eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. CELLULOSE FIBRE R-VALUES. Cellulose insulation has been considered to be a very safe product to use in houses. Also, removal can be very costly. this is the same if insulation is conventional insulation..fg batts,blown fg, or cellulose. There are a multitude of different types of insulation available from fiberglass, cellulose, or icynene to rigid or flexible. Cellulose and other loose-fill insulation materials are shredded or granulated products supplied in a loose form, intended to be installed through a blowing machine in attics and close cavities. They think it will settle and bulge out. The Problems of Moist Insulation Cellulose insulation is one of the most common forms of insulation, found in most homes in West Hollywood and in other parts of the country. These include, but are not limited to: the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation 2; the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C739-97, Standard Specification for Cellulosic Fiber (Wood-Base) Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation 3; and ASTM C1149-97, Standard Specification for Self-Supported Spray Applied Cellulosic Thermal Insulation. The dust can get blown into your home below through down light fixtures and other gaps. Another potential problem caused by wet-sprayed cellulose is moisture damage. A toxicity study has evaluated the problems that might occur with cellulose. Cellulose insulation can be a satisfactory insulating material if it is used conscientiously. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends respirators, and other protective gear be used when handling cellulose insulation. Fortunately, a high-quality, professional installation can prevent most of the problems caused by settling. Cellulose fibre is a loose type of insulation which fills every part of your ceiling joist spacings leaving no gaps. For about two years I would go to the attic from time to time to check the furnace, run cable wire or to store boxes. If all new homes were insulated with cellulose, this would remove 3.2 million tons of newsprint from the nation’s waste stream each year. In my new home built in 2007, there was cellulose insulation installed in the attic. Blown in Cellulose and blown in fiberglass insulations are comparably priced. Cellulose insulation has the highest amount of recycled content when compared to any other forms of insulation. It is no more likely to create moisture/condensation problems than any other insulation. The difference is easily recouped in the greater savings on energy costs by using Cellulose Insulation. Missing cellulose insulation over master bathroom.Bathroom fan prominently featured in photo. Cellulose insulation is the ideal material for attic insulation, and it can make your home more comfortable and efficient all year long. I believe cellulose, fiberglass, and rock wool are good insulation materials, when labeled and installed correctly. Part of their reluctance in my situation is attributed to my dpuble stud 10 1/4" thick walls that are 24" o.c. Dense-packed cellulose insulation in double stud walls offers high performance while maintaining a low carbon footprint. There is no such thing as a bad insulation, only bad applications. Leaving minimal gaps when insulating is crucial for any home, if you have 1% of gaps which is not difficult you lose 10% of the products R rating, 5% you lose 50%. With loose fill cellulose insulation, you can achieve an R-value of 3.2 to 3.8 per square inch. Selecting the best insulation is the first step in creating a dry, properly–functioning indoor environment. 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