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Cellulose Insulation
 One
key to our affordable, environmentally sound, energy-saving
solutions is our use of cellulose insulation materials.
Cellulose is made from 85% recycled newspaper and does not
conduct heat like fiberglass. It was created as an
acoustical product and provides exceptional sound insulation
and buffering, and it is treated with natural borates which
prevents the paper from burning. When we install our
products in your home, we create such an effective air
barrier that it increases the amount of time you and your
loved ones have to escape your home in the event of a fire,
as fires require oxygen to burn. An additional benefit of
cellulose is its insect-deterrent properties. For years,
farmers have used the same borates we treat our cellulose
with to control insects and vermin. They will not nest in
AppleBlossom's treated cellulose.
Fiber glass is made from mined products which are heated in
huge gas-fired furnaces, and then blown or spun into fibrous
threads.
Fiberglass insulation is a conductor of heat and energy, and
as such, can conduct heat - up to 125 degrees - inside your
home, making it more difficult and expensive to cool in the
spring and summer. It also requires up to 10 times more
embodied energy to manufacture compared to cellulose
insulation.
When selecting insulation for your home, you want the best
performing product available, and the one that provides you
with the best value for your money. With cellulose
insulation you get both great value and great performance,
including the highest R-value per inch, excellent fire
retardant capabilities and exceptional sound control, not to
mention the fact that cellulose is one of the greenest
building products in the world today.
What is Cellulose
Insulation?
Building insulation is low-thermal-conductivity material
used to separate the internal climate and sounds of a
building from external climate and sounds. Cellulose
insulation is plant fiber used in wall and roof cavities to
separate the inside and outside of the building thermally
and acoustically.
Four major types of loose-fill cellulose products have been
developed under a variety of brand names. These are
generally characterized as dry cellulose, spray applied
cellulose, stabilized cellulose and low dust cellulose.
These types are used in different parts of a building and
for different reasons.
Dry Cellulose (Loose Fill)
Dry cellulose is used in retrofitting old homes by blowing
the cellulose into holes drilled into the tops of the walls.
It can also be blown into a new wall construction by using
temporary retainers or netting that is clamped in place then
removed once the cellulose has reached the appropriate
density. This form of application does settle as much as 20%
but the stated R-value of the cellulose is accurate after
settling occurs. In addition, a dense-pack option can be
used to reduce settling and further minimize air gaps.
Dense-pack places pressure on the cavity, and should be done
by an experienced installer.
Spray Applied Cellulose (Wet-Spray)
Spray applied cellulose is used for applying cellulose to
new wall construction. The only difference is the addition
of water to the cellulose while spraying. In some cases the
insulation might also mix in a very small percentage of
adhesive or activate a dry adhesive present in the
cellulose. Wet-spray allows application without the need for
a temporary retainer. In addition, wet-spray allows for an
even better seal of the insulated cavity against air
infiltration and eliminates settling problems. Wet-spray
installation requires that the wall be allowed to dry for a
minimum of 24 hours (or until maximum of 25% moisture is
reached) before being covered.
Stabilized Cellulose
Stabilized cellulose is used most often in attic/roof
insulation. It is applied with a very small amount of water
to activate an adhesive of some kind. This reduces settling
and decreases the amount of cellulose needed. This can prove
advantageous at reducing the overall weight of the product
on the ceiling drywall helping prevent possible sag. This
application is ideal for sloped roofs and has been approved
for 5:12 (41.66%) slopes.
Low-Dust Cellulose
The last major type of cellulose insulation on the market is
low dust variety. Nuisance levels of dust are created during
application of most types of dry insulation causing the need
for simple dust masks to be worn during installation. This
kind of cellulose has a small percentage of oil or similar
dust dampener added. This may also be appropriate to homes
where people are sensitive to newsprint or paper dust
(though new dust will not be created after installation).
Advantages of
Cellulose Insulation
Thermal Performance
The thermal performance of loose filled cellulose compares
favorably to other types of insulation. The thermal
conductivity of loose-fill cellulose is approximately 40 mW/(K*m)
(an R-value of 3.8 per inch) which is about the same as or
slightly better than glass wool or rock wool. This doesn’t
represent the whole picture of thermal performance. Other
important aspects are how well the building envelope is
sealed from air infiltration, convective airflows, and
thermal bridging.
 Cellulose
is very good at fitting around items in walls like pipes and
wiring leaving few air pockets that can reduce the overall
efficiency of the wall. It also seals walls from air
infiltration while providing the density to limit
convection. The University of Colorado School of
Architecture and Planning did a study that compared two
seemingly identical test structures, one with cellulose and
the other with fiberglass. The cellulose structure had used
26.4% less energy to heat. It also was shown to tighten the
structure more than 30%. Subsequent real world surveys have
cellulose performing 20-30% better at reducing energy used
for heating than fiberglass.
Compared to foam insulation, cellulose has a lower R-value
per inch, but is much less expensive; foam has a higher cost
per equivalent R-value.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Cellulose's insulation qualities "can save homeowners 20 to
50 percent on their utility bills".
Sound Insulation
Noise reduction is achieved in three ways with cellulose.
The first is that cellulose completely fills cavities
leaving few air pockets for sound to travel in. The second
is the cellulose materials ability to trap air. The
significant difference between noise reduction with
cellulose and fiberglass is its density. Cellulose is
approximately three times denser then fiberglass. This helps
deaden the sound through walls and between floor levels.
Several installation options allow walls to have a Sound
Transmission Class (STC) of 50 or greater. As a comparison,
walls with fiberglass batts have an STC of 36-39, depending
on stud and screw spacing.
Mold and Pest Control
The borates in cellulose insulation provide superior control
against mold, insects, and pests such as rodents.
Installations have shown that even several months of
water-saturation and improper installation did not result in
mold.
Fire Retardation
The borate treatment also gives cellulose the highest (Class
I) fire safety rating. Many cellulose companies use a blend
of ammonium sulfate and borate. Although ammonium sulfate is
normally odorless, unexplained emission of ammonia and a
resulting ammonia smell has been found in some cases.
Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier may not be needed with cellulose insulation.
For example, recent studies have shown that air movement is
the primary method by which excessive moisture can
accumulate in mild marine climate such as Portland, OR, USA.
An insulation that fills the wall cavity completely (such as
cellulose or foam) can help prevent moisture problems.
Recommendations against using vapor barriers with cellulose
insulation are supported by studies, even though they
classify cellulose as vapor permeable.
In addition, cellulose acts to distribute moisture
throughout the cavity, preventing the buildup of moisture in
one area and helping to dry the moisture more quickly.
Cellulose manufacturers do not recommend the installation of
a vapor barrier with cellulose. |
What Our Clients Say about
Us...
I would highly rate John and
AppleBlossom Insulators. John is the owner and the person
that I dealt with from the first call to the completed
project. Our job and attic was a very difficult job due to
the tight quarters and age of the house, the heat, and the
animal droppings. John was great. He returned my calls very
promptly, and he was timely with meeting for a quote. Our
job had some minor setbacks and complications; however, John
was very timely in correcting those and was genuine in his
concern for our satisfaction. He is a great example to the
commitment to excellence of a small business owner. I am
delighted with the finished product and the man that stands
for the company.
~ Donna B., Charlotte, NCC |
