MIAMI Blog

Everything you need to know about Blown-In Insulation

There are many types of insulation out there today and the differences among them can be confusing; not choosing the right one can end up costing or saving you a substantial amount of time, money, and energy. Today we are going to get to know Blown-in Insulation also known as loose-fill insulation, an application method for cellulose and fiberglass insulation. Blown-in is one of the most popular kinds of insulation due to its many benefits and affordability. Blown-in insulation is thick, dense with a consistency much like down feathers. As the name suggests, blown-in insulation is blown into attic spaces or within walls and covers your space in a fluffy layer of insulation all the way into the last corner without disturbing existing insulation or your home's structures. The insulation's little particles come together to fill the space and create a solid barrier to protect your home against Miami's heat.

Why Blown-In?

Especially when it comes to fiberglass insulation, many people think of big rolls of pink or yellow sheets. However, the loose fill version of the popular insulation is more adaptive to your needs as you can control more easily what depth and density you want for optimum insulation. The small particles of blown-in insulation are particularly useful for spaces with low headroom clearance, irregular joist spacing or other obstructions that the material can easily adjust to and settle around to provide the best coverage. Settling into and filling all those little gaps and cavities is important in order to provide maximum efficiency. The convenient delivery system through a hose allows for blown-in to be used not only for open spaces or new construction but also makes it ideal for retrofit insulation. Cellulose is one of the oldest insulation materials still used to this day. While it has been around for over a century, cellulose insulation only became popular in the 1950s, when fire-retardant chemicals like ammonium sulfate and boric acid were added to the material.

What are the benefits of Blown-In Insulation?

There are a number of advantages to using blown-in insulation over other types:

• Loose-fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most obstructions found in walls and attics.
• Blown-in insulation is more airtight than other traditional types of insulation.The blown material is smaller and able to get into tiny cracks and crevices of your attic, where air typically leaks through.
• Loose-fill cellulose is relatively inexpensive, yet still has an R-value of about 3.5 per inch of thickness (for cellulose) and 2.2 to 2.7 per inch (for fiberglass).
• When walls are already finished, injecting loose-fill cellulose insulation is one of the easiest ways of adding insulation. 
• Due to its composition, this type of insulation is better able to prevent noise from traveling through walls.
• Cellulose insulation stands up reasonably well against insects and vermin because it is treated with borates.

What are the different types of Blown-In Insulation?

Fiberglass Blown-In

Fiberglass is currently the most common type of insulation and is as light as air. It is manufactured by heating up glass to a liquid state and spinning it into thin fibers which are used to fortify plastic filaments. These fibers will then be blown into your attic or other space and, with their R-value of around 2.7/inch, will create a barrier of protection for your home by slowing the spread of heat and sound. This makes fiberglass blown-in a thermally efficient type of insulation. 

Since fiberglass is made from glass, it is actually noncombustible, meaning that it does not burn. It also does not absorb water, making it mold-resistant so you can feel safe in your own home. 

Cellulose Blown-In

Cellulose Blown-In insulation is made from ground paper and one of the most environmentally friendly options as 85% of its content is recycled. The paper settles perfectly into any little crevices and therefore provides good air sealing and thermal efficiency. Due to the material, old cellulose used to have a high burn factor (so it's important to check your insulation and upgrade it if necessary!) but nowadays, cellulose is treated with borates which make it fire resistant and help against insects and pests while being completely harmless for humans. 

Which product is the right choice for your home? Our team at Koala Insulation of Miami can help. Our team would be happy to come to your home to evaluate the current situation and find out where would be best to install or upgrade your home's existing insulation with the right type of insulation tailored to your home's needs. Contact us today to schedule your free evaluation.