TWIN CITIES WEST Blog

The Four Types of Insulation, and Which One Is Best for Your Home

Insulation is a layer of material sandwiched between your walls that helps lower your home’s energy costs by reducing heat flow. Out of sight and mind, this material plays a significant role in regulating the temperature within your home.

As any Minnesotan knows, temperatures in the North Star State fluctuate within a wide range. Warm summers and frigid winters can make maintaining a comfortable temperature challenging.

Whether you’re in the process of building your new house or simply doing some upgrades to optimize your existing home, you should understand your insulation options. That’s why we’re here!

The Four Types of Insulation

While there are many options to choose from, four types serve as the best Minnesota insulation materials. Here’s a brief look at the options you need to know about.

Open Spray Cell Foam

One of the two types of spray cell foam is open-cell foam. It’s composed of tiny bubbles sprayed directly into an open cavity, and it remains soft to the touch even after it’s dry. Consequently, it’s a reasonably flexible material.

Open spray cell foam expands considerably after application, filling in small areas. That makes it ideal for small, hard-to-reach places. This material is excellent for providing a seal around wiring holes, open soffits and attic hatches, and plumbing vents. Open spray cell foam is also great at soundproofing.

Closed Spray Cell Foam

Unlike open spray cell foam, closed-cell foam has been encapsulated and pressed together tightly, leaving no room for air and moisture to get inside. It dries hard and bolsters the structural integrity of your home.

Due to its water-resistant nature, closed spray cell foam is an excellent option for attic floors, walls, and hatches, soffits, and the exterior of your home. Though more costly than open spray cell foam, this option provides the highest level of insulation efficiency, making it the best choice for the Minnesota climate.

Blown-in Insulation

Blown-in insulation is a lumpy material composed of either loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose that is quite literally blown into the space you’re insulating with a special machine. That makes this material very easy to pack in small, hard-to-reach areas.

The fiberglass comes in the form of microscopic, spun fibers. These tiny fibers don’t settle as much after installation and won’t catch fire given the high recycled glass content.

For those who like to keep things eco-friendly, cellulose is the best option. It’s composed of chemically treated recycled newspaper, cardboard, and loose wood-based materials, making it resistant to fire and insects.

Blown-in insulation is a popular choice for attics and any space between wall studs and ceiling joists. You can use this material for first-time insulation purposes, or you can add it to existing insulation for added protection for your home.  

Batt Insulation

When most people picture insulation, batt is the type that comes to mind. That is the precut fiberglass material that rolls out like a blanket.

Batt insulation is the most common insulation type in the U.S. for its low cost and ease of installation. This insulation boasts numerous benefits:

• Moisture resistant
• Fire resistant
• Eco-friendly
• Durability
• Sound dampening
• Mold resistant

Batt insulation is ideal for insulating the walls, attics, and ceilings in your home. As it typically comes in rolls, pre-cut to fit in the spaces between studs, it takes less time to install than other types of insulation.

Which Insulation Type Is Best?

Choosing the best insulation materials for Minnesota all comes down to the nature of your project. If your walls have no current insulation, batts or blow-in insulation may be the best option depending on your budget. Are you looking to reinforce your existing insulation? Open or closed spray cell foam may be just what you need.

Not sure what type of insulation you need? The experts at Koala Insulation Twin Cities West are here to help. Whether you’re installing insulation for the first time or looking to beef up your current insulation, their knowledgeable team of professionals will take the time to guide you through the options so you can make a clear and informed decision. Contact them today for a free consultation.