BEST ATTIC INSULATION: BLOWN OR ROLLED? NEWTOWN PA
Insulation is critical for saving energy and lowering energy bills. In fact, the average home in the U.S. spends about 50- to 70-percent of its energy bills on heating and cooling. This means that anyone who wants to lower their energy costs must look at decreasing how much they are spending on cooling and heating.
In the average home, insulation is able to reduce the cost of heating and cooling by about 20 percent. Unfortunately, most homes do not have adequate insulation.
This is why you may be thinking about adding more insulation to your home.
But which insulation is the best choice for you? You've come to the right place. We'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of the available insulation options so that you can make a better informed decision.
WHAT IS ROLLED INSULATION?
Rolled insulation is typically made in the form of long, narrow blankets and is then processed into tightly compacted rolls from which this type of insulation gets its name.
Rolled insulation is usually found in standard widths of 16 inches or 24 inches to enable it to be installed between the joists of the building. These blankets are put into place and then trimmed to the desired length.
The "R" value, which is the amount of resistance to heat flow, varies for rolled insulation based on its respective thickness. However, R values can be increased by adding additional layers of insulation.
A variety of materials can be used to manufacture rolled insulation, which include:
• Fiberglass
• Wool fibers
• Cellulose
WHAT IS BLOWN INSULATION?
Unlike rolled insulation, blown insulation, also known as "loose-fill" insulation, is sprayed or blown into the space that needs to be insulated.
Due to its design, blown insulation coats the surface to which it is applied. Insulation values can be increased by increasing the volume or thickness of the insulation being installed.
While blown insulation can actually be applied by hand, the preferred method of using pneumatic equipment will provide a substantially better result.
Blown insulation is typically made from recycled paper or cardboard products, though it can consist of fiberglass or mineral fibers.
WHICH IS BETTER: ROLLED OR BLOWN INSULATION?
Rolled insulation is the traditional choice that may already be in your house. It comes in large rolls that are simply unrolled in the attic.
Blown insulation is much more efficient to install than rolled insulation. A machine is required to distribute the blown insulation, and workers are needed to operate it. However, the process for installing rolled insulation is much more labor intensive. The rolled insulation may need to be layered, and it must be manually cut into shapes to fit the various nooks and crannies in the attic. This can take a great deal of time as the workers need to shape the insulation to fit complicated corners.
IS BLOWN INSULATION BETTER THAN BATT?
Batt insulation consists of layers of felt that are cut to fit in between the home's framing. Frequently, it is necessary to install more than one layer to provide optimum protection.
Some varieties of batt insulation have facing made of foil or paper to help prevent moisture problems. The batts must be cut down to size to fit between wall studs and joists. Even when installed by a professional, it is virtually inevitable that gaps will be left. This means that you won't get the absolute best energy savings with this type of insulation.
With blown insulation, it is much easier to get a consistent and complete distribution across the entire attic. The blown insulation naturally conforms to wiring, studs, joists and other features of the attic to provide greater protection.
If you are serious about getting the most energy efficiency out of your home, then blown-in insulation is definitely the way to go.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE INSULATION FOR YOUR BUILDING
No matter the size or configuration of your attic, blown insulation is likely to be the most efficient and economical solution. This loose fill insulation simply conforms to the unique contours of your attic space better than any rolled insulation ever could.
Moreover, blown insulation has impressive R-values. This means that you will have better control over how hot or cold your home gets. At the same time, you will significantly reduce the cost of your energy bills.
R-VALUES: ROLLED VS. BLOWN
When comparing blown insulation vs. rolled or batt, R-values must be considered. For instance, rolled and batt insulation typically provide R-levels between R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch of thickness.
Conversely, blown insulation generally provides R-values of between 2.2 to 2.7 per inch for fiberglass, and between 3.2 and 3.8 per inch for cellulose, as per the U.S. Department of Energy.
R-VALUE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ATTIC INSULATION
Let's break down what R-Value is. The R refers to resistance to heat flow. The higher an R-Value is, the more insulating power is offered.
Estimates suggest that as many as 90-percent of homes in America are not sufficiently insulated. This is unfortunate because having adequate insulation helps to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter as well as saving you money on energy bills all year long.
Buildings in colder climates require a greater amount of insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy has divided the country into eight climate zones, with zones one and two being the hottest and zones seven and eight being the coldest. Newtown is in Zone 5, which makes it a relatively cold climate.
In addition to understanding the climate zone, it is essential to consider your home's age. If it is more than a decade old, chances are good that it requires additional insulation.
The R-Value that you are seeking also depends upon what part of the home you are insulating. Basically, the R-Value required of attic insulation may be different than the R-Value needed for the crawlspace or walls.
While R-13 to R-23 frequently is recommended for walls, you'll want to be closer to R-38 to R-49 for your attic. In fact, Department of Energy recommendations for Zone 5 run between R38 and R60.
HOW CRITICAL IS ATTIC INSULATION?
The attic likely is the most important place to add insulation to your home. That insulation makes your home greener and keeps your energy bills in check. In addition, attic insulation prevents air from escaping the interior of the home and prevents exterior air from entering.
When your home is losing too much cold or hot air, you are wasting energy. Air naturally moves from warm areas to cold areas. In the winter, the warm air that you want to keep in your home tries to escape outdoors. The process is reversed in the summer as hot air tries to get inside.
Outlying areas of the home, like the attic, are among the first places where this air exchange occurs. If this process can be efficiently completed in the attic, it will make its way into the rest of the house.
Insulation works because it limits air movement within your home's interior. All of the air that is trapped in the insulation prevents heat from escaping one place to move into the next.
Accordingly, attic insulation is critical to your home's energy efficiency.
BLOWN OR ROLLED: WHICH IS FASTER TO INSTALL?
Rolled insulation can prove physically challenging to handle due to its size and shape. This is in addition to the inconvenience of having to measure and cut to exact dimensions to provide a proper fit.
On the other hand, although blown insulation would not be considered a DIY-friendly project, it is still faster to install and can be professionally installed in an attic in a single, while taking considerably longer for to install rolled insulation in most cases.
CAN YOU DIY ATTIC INSULATION?
DIY attic insulation is always tricky. If you are using the rolled insulation, then you could spend a lot of time trying to cut it and fit it into the various crevices of your attic. Even if you manage to get pretty good coverage, you likely will miss portions that will allow air to escape. It's also possible that you won't get all of your cuts quite right, and this will mean wasted insulation.
Blown insulation requires a special machine with a hose attachment that is used to blow the insulation into the attic. These machines typically are not available to the public.
WHY WE RECOMMEND TAP INSULATION
What if you could have all of the advantages of blown insulation plus incredible pest control at the same time?
That is precisely what TAP insulation delivers. T.A.P. stands for Thermal Acoustical Pest Control.
TAP has several benefits. Firstly, it is environmentally friendly. That's because it is made from recycled products like wool, minerals and cellulose. Rolled insulation most frequently is made from plastic-based materials that will certainly increase your carbon footprint.
Secondly, being a blown-in form of insulation, TAP offers superior energy efficiency.
Thirdly, TAP is made with a fire retardant. This means that it will char in a fire, but it will not become engulfed in flames. Accordingly, the path of the fire is effectively blocked in the attic. That can translate to saved lives.
And, unlike traditional insulation which has a tendency to off-gas which can prove hazardous to your health due to the chemicals in rolled insulation, TAP does not off-gas since it is made from recycled paper products.
Finally, TAP blown insulation also acts as an effective barrier against pests. It contains a borate-based pest control product. While this substance is completely innocuous to people, it is deadly to insects. This means that TAP insulation provides greater energy efficiency, controls the flames in a fire and protects your home against bug infestations.
HOW TO GET TAP INSULATION
This product is registered with the EPA for its pest control properties. Accordingly, it can only be installed by a licensed pest management company. If you want to ensure that your home is green, energy efficient and proactively discourages pest infestations, then you need TAP insulation.
Call for a FREE inspection today.
