Blown in insulation - cellulose vs fiberglass

Like many older homes, our craftsman style bungalow didn't have any insulation in the structure when we purchased it several years ago, unless of course you count the newspapers from the 1920's stuffed into the sill above the foundation in the basement. Because cold weather is approaching - and we burned nearly 700 gallons of heating oil during the last heating season - we decided it was time to remedy the problem.

We quickly decided blown in insulation was our best option, as I didn't feel like ripping down the walls for the project. The biggest question then became what insulation product do we use. There are three main types, foam, cellulose and fiberglass.

Concerns over the potential for foam insluation to "out gas" or emit some noxious chemicals quickly eliminated that option so I centered my research on cellulose, which is essentially recycled newspaper, and fiberglass. Both have their drawbacks and their positives, but we finally decided that cellulose was the way to go for our situation.

The main drawback for blown in fiberglass is that it tends to lose its R-value, the insulating properties, as the temperature difference increases between the exterior and interior of the structure. Living in the northeast with cold winters, its when the mercury drops when the insulation is needed the most so this was a big concern for us. I have heard that the problem can be mitigated with installing some bat fiberglass insulation above the blown in stuff, but that wasn't pratical for our purposes.

The main drawback for cellulose is concerns that people have over its ability to catch fire - it is recycled newspaper after all. Most manufacturers however add a fire retardant to the material that is supposed to prevent the insulation from adding to the structure's fire load. Cellulose can also settle within the wall and cause gaps if not installed properly.

Because the temperatures were already dropping outdoors, we opted to hire a contractor for the job rather than do it ourselves, although most of the materials and the machines needed for the job are available at big box home improvement stores and tool rental companies.

Make sure to ask potential contractors about your concerns when it comes to settling if you choose cellulose. Most who know what they are doing will tell you that if they install the product with a pressure of three pounds per square foot, it should take care of the problem.

Good contractors will also drill two holes in each wall cavity from the exterior - one on top and one on the bottom - to ensure a proper installation. Ask about this as well. The siding is often removed before the holes are drilled and replaced when the job is completed. Most contractors can get the job completed in about a day depending on the size of your home.

When hiring a contractor, its also a good idea to ask for a couple of references - customers who have recnelty had work completed and can tell you about the experience. If I am very happy with a contractor, I will always offer to serve as a reference for them if needed.

When the project was completed, not only was our house warmer (we actually had to turn down the thermostat in the middle of the night because it was so hot in our room), but it also reduced the amount of ambient noise from the outside that made its way into our home.

Tip of the Day - When installing insulation in  your home, or any energy saving material, check to see what kind of tax incentives or rebates may be offered. We actually received a rebate from the state that gave us a substantial savings on the project.