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Dense pack insulation in Corning NY

Dense Pack Insulation

Dense pack insulation, sometimes called dense pack cellulose, is blown-in cellulose insulation that is subjected to higher than normal pressure during installation. The pressure can only be increased in a closed cavity, such as behind a wall. Since there’s no way to create the high pressure needed in open areas, such as between exposed attic rafters, dense pack insulation can’t be applied in those areas.

We’ll go into a little more detail on the installation of dense pack later in this post.

Why Choose Dense Pack?

Although dense pack insulation is a good heat insulator, its high profile use is for noise control. Noisy neighbors or lots of foot traffic upstairs? Dense packing can help. Trouble with a roommate or the unit next door? Dense pack insulation is your friend.

An additional benefit is that dense pack acts as a flame retardant. You will not only reduce noise with its installation, but you’ll make your home safer as well.

Other types of insulation can be used for sound control. We’ll take a quick look at those, then talk about the one drawback they all have in common.

Other Sound Control Choices

Fiberglass rolls or batts are the most traditional form of insulation. They can also be used as a fairly good form of noise control. Fiberglass is relatively inexpensive, and it’s easy to work with. It’s pretty good at deadening high and medium frequency sounds, but doesn’t do as good a job blocking low frequency sounds. Used in conjunction with other sound deadening techniques or insulation, it is a reasonable choice to limit noise, but it is the best choice only when price is a primary factor.

Mineral wool is both an excellent insulator and sound deadener. It’s a dense material that is great at blocking all types of noise frequencies. Unfortunately, it is noticeably more expensive than fiberglass, and it can be difficult to work with and install. Mineral wool only comes in certain sizes, so it will almost always have to be cut to fit and pieced together for each unique installation. This increases installation costs over and above the material being more expensive. If noise suppression is the top priority and price is not a critical factor, then mineral wool is a good choice.

Foam board has similar characteristics to mineral wool. It’s a good sound deadener, but it’s not quite as good of a heat insulator as mineral wool. It is costs more than fiberglass, and it takes a little more effort to install because it must be cut to fit. If price is not the most important factor then foam board is a good option.

Drawbacks of Other Types

Fiberglass, mineral board, and foam board are all good insulators and, to one degree or another, good sound deadeners as well. Sometimes they are the best choice. But they do have one common drawback—they are all just about impossible to install in existing structures.

In order to install any of these products it is necessary to fully expose the inside of walls or the underside of floors. In new construction this isn’t a problem. And in some cases, like an unfinished basement, they are still possibilities. But in homes that have sheetrock or some other hard and permanent wall or ceiling cover, then the only way to install them begins with serious deconstruction. For example, sheetrock would have to be pulled away from the wall to install fiberglass. The deconstruction adds to the expense and creates a huge mess. In addition, re-installation of the wall covering must be undertaken at extra expense. In most cases this is not even an option.

These drawbacks are what have led to less intrusive means of installing sound deadening insulation.

Dense Pack Installation

Dense pack is installed, in most cases, by drilling small holes in a wall or ceiling, and then blowing the insulation in under high pressure. This is an intrusive form of installation, but it is significantly less intrusive than the other three types previously mentioned. It’s possible to quickly and easily plug the holes if they’re in locations where appearance is not a consideration. But in the worse case, it’s not very difficult or expensive to patch the holes and return them to their original condition.

For the actual installation, the installer inserts a tube into the hole and uses an electric pump to force the insulation in under high pressure. The pressure causes the insulation to thickly condense, thus the name “dense pack.” When the insulation is densely packed, it provides better heat insulation than normal blown-in insulation, acts as an air seal, and is an excellent sound deadener. Without tearing your home apart, it is the only viable option for sound deadening.

Dense pack has the added benefit of being a better heat insulator. Because it’s tightly packed, the R-Value is higher.

Since dense pack is intrusive, it’s important to use a professional insulation installer with a good reputation who can properly patch the holes. The last thing you need is a sloppy finish.

Great Expectations

It’s important to clarify the difference between sound deadening and sound proofing. The insulation types and installation procedures we’ve discussed so far provide a level of sound deadening, but they do not provide sound proofing. Sound proofing is a combination of technologies that absolutely removes all sound from a room. Unless audio recording is taking place, most people don’t need sound proofing to reach acceptable and peaceful levels of quiet. But if you are looking for actual sound proofing, then a great deal more effort and expense is involved than has been discussed in this post, and is best left to a specialist in that area.

A Final Green Note

Dense pack cellulose is an environmentally friendly choice. It is predominantly made of recycled materials, and no chemicals are used to blow it into place. If you’re concerned with the environment then dense pack is a great way to go.

Where to go from Here

While it is possible to install dense pack as a DIY project, it’s best left to a professional. It’s important to use cellulose specifically designed for dense pack installation and it’s important to use the proper pressure and the correct volume to get the intended results.

An inspection by a qualified insulation expert and a consultation with that expert is the best thing you can do to start your journey into noise reduction. At Koala Insulation, our technicians are experts in all kinds of insulation materials and installation techniques. Our experts bring state-of-the-art equipment with them to thoroughly inspect your home or building top to bottom, inside and out. They will give you a detailed assessment of your home. They will design a custom solution to meet your needs, and will help answer your questions about the status of your insulation. And since every building is unique, your expert may suggest a combination of installation options to protect your home from noise, cold, heat, moisture, and pests.

Don’t forget that the investment you make today will reap years of energy-saving benefits. Contact us now to schedule a consultation to start your journey toward higher energy efficiency and better protection for your home.