CHATTANOOGA Blog

A Breakdown of Our Insulation Materials

Getting the right insulation installed in your home is one of the most important choices you can make for your home’s efficiency and comfort. It also helps reduce your carbon footprint and your impact on the environment. While you may think any type of insulation will do, there is a time and place for each insulation material that we offer.

We explain a bit more about our different insulation materials below to help you make an informed decision when it comes time to upgrade your home’s insulation.

Blown-In Insulation

Blown-in insulation is our loose-fill insulation material. This means that it is made of tiny pieces rather than a sheet or foam. These pieces are made of either fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool and are blown through long tubes directly onto your attic floor or behind your walls.

One drawback of blown-in insulation is that it has to be some sort of structure to support it since it is loose. It won’t work on exposed walls or up in your rafters, but it certainly is a great choice for attic floors and between walls where we use what is called a drill-and-fill process. It is great at temperature control and can regulate your entire home with one comprehensive layer.

Batt Insulation

Batt insulation is also made of fiberglass, but these fiberglass strands are woven into sheets instead of being left as a loose material. This is why it is a great choice for walls and between joists as it is cut to size. It is budget-friendly and doesn’t settle over time, making it a really durable choice.

One consideration for batt insulation is that it can be trickier to navigate around complicated spaces like ductwork, wiring or electrical boxes. In these cases, spray foam or blown-in insulation may be the better choice.

Spray Foam

Spray foam is the insulation that is made directly on site using a combination of chemicals. It expands to fill whatever it is applied to and creates a tight seal against the elements. It comes in two forms, either closed-cell or open-cell.

Open-cell spray foam is a bit more flexible and is great at noise reduction, but it is not as water resistant as closed-cell. Closed-cell spray foam is water-impermeable and incredibly durable, but it is one of the more expensive insulation materials we offer. Closed-cell spray foam is a great choice for areas of your home that experience moisture like attics, crawl spaces and basements.

We can help you find the perfect insulation material for your home. Contact us today at Koala Insulation of Chattanooga.