Why is Fiberglass Insulation So Popular With Home Builders?

Whether you are building a new home or renovating your current one, one question that is always asked is how to know which type of insulation is best for your home. According to recent research, the majority of home builders still favor fiberglass insulation over other options. Out of the 1,600 builders who were surveyed, 71% use fiberglass insulation. Keep reading to learn more about fiberglass insulation and why it is so popular among home builders.  What is Fiberglass Insulation? Fiberglass insulation is a type of insulation that is composed mainly of extremely fine glass fibers. It works as an insulator by trapping air and slowing the transfer of heat. Most often, fiberglass insulation comes in a blanket form; however, you can also find it in loose-fill form. Fiberglass insulation is an excellent choice for homeowners who are looking to save money or for those who are planning to complete the insulation installation job themselves.  The thickness of the fiberglass batts determines the resistance to heat flow, which is measured by the R-value. For walls, the R-value ranges from R11 to R19; for ceilings and attics, it can go up as high as R-30. What are the Benefits of Using Fiberglass Insulation? Just like with any type of insulation, fiberglass insulation provides the homeowner with quite a few benefits, including the following:  Fiberglass insulation is inexpensive, effective, and easy to install. It is moisture resistant, which is great for homes in higher-humidity regions. Because it resists moisture, it is less prone to mold growth.  You do not have to worry about insects eating the fiberglass insulation, as it is...
How Does Cellulose Insulation Work?

How Does Cellulose Insulation Work?

If you’re considering boosting your insulation before winter hits, you probably want to know what options you have. There are three primary types of insulation: cellulose, spray foam, and fiberglass. Cellulose is a very popular option for a lot of reasons. It’s environmentally friendly and it’s often the least expensive of the insulation types. This guide can help you decide if cellulose insulation is right for you!   How Cellulose is Installed Cellulose insulation can be installed in three ways. The most common is having it blown into a space using a large hose. This is usually done in the attic, You can also use this insulation in your walls. Dense pack cellulose provides heat and cold insulation, along with a level of soundproofing. Finally, cellulose can be wet sprayed This is generally done during new construction and gives you the same benefits as dense packing the insulation. When installed properly, cellulose will not settle in the building cavity. If someone installs it who aren’t experienced, they may not make it dense enough, which would mean the fill would not work properly. It pays to use a professional!   The R-Value of Cellulose Insulation The R-Value of an insulation product will help you understand how well it does at protecting your home from heat and cold. The R-value of cellulose is between fiberglass and spray foam. It is dense, which gives it a good R-value, reduced air flow, and good soundproofing abilities. Both air flow and R-value make a big difference when it comes to how well your home will be insulated. Cellulose is a great option for high...
Is Fiberglass Insulation Safe, Or Should I Use An Alternative?

Is Fiberglass Insulation Safe, Or Should I Use An Alternative?

Could your homes cooling efficiency use a boost? Depending on how old your home is you may need to update your insulation. When insulating your home you have several popular options to choose from, but one of the longest and most widely used options is fiberglass insulation.     What is fiberglass insulation?   Fiberglass is a tried and true method for insulating your home. Even though the technique of spinning glass particles together dates all the back to the Egyptian days, fiberglass as we know it originated in the 1930s. A scientist discovered it by accident when an experiment went wrong resulting in a glass block being melted and blown into long glass strands.   He began developing and improving this process and by the 1950s, had a partnership with Chevrolet to use his fiberglass in their car bodies.   Fiberglas is essentially small glass particles woven together. It usually comes in sheets with a backing on one side, but can come as loose particles to be blown into space as well.   Fiberglass works by trapping air and retarding the advance of moisture, heat, and cold. The effectiveness is based on the thickness of the fiberglass commonly referred to as r-value     Pros of using fiberglass insulation   Fiberglass is very efficient at stopping or retarding heat, cold and moisture. It can increase the energy efficiency of your home by as much as 40 percent.     Hazards and other cons of using fiberglass insulation   Not everyone agrees on all the hazards of fiberglass but there is a potential for health concern when installing, or...
Is Cellulose Insulation the Best Choice for Your Home?

Is Cellulose Insulation the Best Choice for Your Home?

There are many different kinds of insulation but today we are going to take a look at some of the benefits of cellulose insulation as compared to fiberglass insulation. Cellulose is rated with a higher R-value than fiberglass is by square inch. Cellulose is plant-based, consisting of plant fibers. This makes it less hazardous than fiberglass and safer for you to install. There are variations of it that give it a soundproofing quality. Advantages of using Cellulose: Made from natural, recycled materials rather than glass particles Possibly the most energy-efficient of all types of blow-in insulation Is very resistant to cold. Resistant to airflow When borate is added it becomes fire retardant Will not corrode steel, copper or aluminum When adding insulation to an attic you have several options including fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, or cellulose. When blowing into a closed wall blown in cellulose is the most cost-effective and practical option. For example, to add rolled fiberglass you would have to pull down the sheetrock walls to add the fiberglass rolls, then reinstall new sheetrock, texture the wall, and paint it. Compare that to making small holes to spray blown cellulose that can be easily patched. Cellulose can technically be created from any plant fibers but usually comes from wood. More specifically paper. Recycled paper products like newspaper, cardboard boxes, and other types of paper products are what is most often used. Because of this cellulose is an eco-friendly product. The most common type of cellulose insulation you will encounter is called loose fill cellulose insulation. It typically will be blown in dry and will be dense and...
What is cellulose insulation?

What is cellulose insulation?

Considering cellulose insulation for your home or place of business? Cellulose insulation is 75% recycled material and 15% boric treatment. It has an R-value of 3.5 per inch of thickness. It is installed with a blower into the attics and walls of a home or business. Because it is blown into place, much like spray foam, it fills small corners and curves in the envelope of your home that fiberglass batts might miss. Ask the team at Reeves Insulation if cellulose insulation is a good choice for your building. Use our online form here: https://www.reevesinsulationllc.com/contact/. Or call us at (870)793-2623. What makes it different from other insulation materials? Cellulose insulation is a great choice for builders looking for an economical, eco-friendly option for insulation. The recycled materials are often paper, sawdust, or plant based materials. With this boric treatment, many materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, get put back to use as energy-saving insulation. Compared to fiberglass insulation batts, cellulose has a higher, more-efficient R-value. Air has a more difficult time moving through cellulose. Although, it is not as good at air resistance as spray foam insulation. It’s properties, once installed, make it a better air sealant than fiberglass. Is cellulose insulation right for my building? There are a few things to consider before deciding that cellulose insulation is right for your build. Settling: Cellulose is designed to settle. This settling will not cause the R-value to decrease, the insulation will still keep your building at a comfortable temperature like any other insulation material. When it is installed with a blower, the cellulose insulation is damp....