Proper ventilation in a residential or commercial building is very important. It keeps the indoors healthy to breathe. It also keeps your heating and cooling costs under control by preventing air and moisture from entering the room.
Therefore, you need to make sure your indoors are properly sealed, especially in the areas like the attic or crawl space. But even if you have spray foam there, it tends to lose its value and performance over time. Mold caused by any leaks of animal waste such as mice droppings and similar substances can wear these out.
There is a difference between air ventilation and leakages. Ventilation should only occur from the areas it is meanest to, like doors and windows. Ventilation from leaks can be very problematic, and such leaks should be sorted out soon.
What is Blown-in Attic Insulation?
Blown-in attic insulation means fiberglass, cellulose, and other thick, lumpy, or dense insulation. It comes with a very similar consistency to the down feathers, and you can fit it in tight areas like walls and between ducts and wires. This insolation refers to using a special machine used for blown insulation.
Using Ventilation Baffles
The attic is an area that needs plenty of ventilation. Therefore, it has different intake vents or soffit vents present. Now, there are chances that these vents can weaken over time.
Hence, baffles are installed to ensure adequate airflow within your attic space. These baffles prevent dents from clogging up due to insulation. They also ensure the channel remains clean for outside air to move from those intake vents into the attic.
Benefits of blown-in insulation
- Blown-in insulation can prevent warm air from escaping your home in the winter. Moreover, it prevents heat from getting into your house in the summers.
- It can retain a warm air front or heating system in the winter and cold air from your cooling system in the summers for longer periods. So, it helps in reducing your energy bills.
- Fiberglass blown-in insulation is entirely fireproof, while cellulose and fiberglass blown-in insulation can make your attic soundproof.
- It can also reduce condensation and can help in controlling your attic temperature.
- Blown-in insulation can get into tighter nooks and crevices inside your attic.
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray-in or spray-on foam insulation expands to fill the cracks and form a tightly sealed barrier. It can virtually eliminate air infiltration. It can expand 100 times when you say it and can maint flexibility as your structure ages.
However, this type of insulation can provide you with the highest R-value per inch. But you have the option of going for the three different types of spray foam insulation densities based on your requirements.
Benefits of spray foam insulation
- There are three different types of densities that you can choose from based on your needs and requirements.
- Spray foam insulation might be expensive, but it is much more durable and a bit easier to install.
- This type of insulation can add to the overall value of your home.
- It can handle moisture and air leaks much better than any other insulation type.
- Spray foam insulation can help maintain the indoor temperature of your structure throughout the years, spending upon the season.
Pros & Cons of Blown-in Insulation Compared to Spray Foam
Pros
- You can insert this installation in different areas that are extremely small and narrow. You can use it to fill spaces between heating and AC units for keeping them insulated and utilizing your attic space properly.
- Blown-in insulation is comparatively cheap to spray foam, but you don’t have to compromise on R-value.
- This insulation is mostly treated with borates and prevents vermin and insects from entering and populating your attic.
- You can layer this type of insulation on top of areas already insulated. So you can use it on top of your spray for insulation for reinforcement.
Cons
- Installation of blown-in insulation can be pretty messy, and you will need professional help in most cases.
- Putting too much insulation in one section can result in sag.
- You will have to insulate plumbing first to install cellulose blown-in insulation over fiberglass blown-in insulation. Moreover, you will have to refit and cut any inadequately laid batts.
- Blown-in insulation is more prone to affect posture over an extended period than spray foam.
Which Is the Best Type of Insulation?
The best type of insulation is the one that goes well according to our demands and requirements. For example, spray-in insulation (open-cell) has an R-value of around 3.7 per inch. This might be pretty good, but nothing extraordinary.
Blown-in insulation also has an R-value of around 3.5 per inch. But when you compare the closed-cell spray-in insulation with blown-in insulation, the R-values differ much more (3.7 vs. 6.5 per inch, respectively).
So, if you are going for a higher density, you should choose spray-in insulation over blown-in insulation. Otherwise, there is not much difference between the two. But if you want to save some extra bucks, you should look to install fiberglass blown-in insulation because it is much cheaper than anything.
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Between blown-in and spray-in foam insulation, you should consider going for the high-density spray-in foam. This type of insulation has a much higher R-value than any other insulation type. But you will have to bear a high cost.
There is not much difference between cellulose spray-in and blow-in foam insulation. However, consider fiberglass blown-in insulation foam if you’re on a budget.
Call us today and book your assessment. We will help you determine whether you need spray-in or blown-in insulation installation.
Just give us a call, and we will be at your service for estimation in Toronto.