Insulation keeps a home warm in winter and cool in summer.
Other popular insulation alternatives include fiberglass batts or blown-in fiberglass.
Discover why blowing in loose-fill cellulose insulation is still the most practical and cost-effective method for enclosed walls.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
What Is Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is made from cellular plant sources, such as corncobs or sisal.
It is an eco-friendly home product with an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
It is thick, dense, and clumpy, with a consistency similar to down feathers.
Instead, moisture is introduced into the spray to help the dry cellulose stick to the wall.
Tofill finished walls, holes are drilled in the plaster or drywall to permit access to the blower nozzle.
For attics, cellulose insulation is blown in parallel to the joists.
Here’s how dry cellulose insulation is installed:
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With cellulose, eco-friendliness is a debatable issue.
On the one hand, it can be considered green because it uses up to 85 percent recycled materials.
Fiberglass insulation may also use recycled materials.
So, the green advantage of cellulose insulation may be less significant than it is sometimes portrayed.
Here, the traditional favorite is blow-in cellulose insulation, although spray-in foam is becoming steadily more common.
With open walls, you could install fiberglass roll insulation, although spray-applied foam insulation is also possible.
Is Blown Cellulose Insulation a Fire Hazard?
Cellulose insulation’s source paper is combustible in its raw state.
However, cellulose insulation is treated with borates, Class I fire retardants during manufacturing.
Like a cellulose sponge, it absorbs moisture and expands.
Cellulose insulation is mold-resistant because it’s composed of boric acid, which has antifungal properties.
However, if left wet, the moist environment may not resist mold and mildew.
