Fiberglass Verses Cellulose Insulation

Winters are often cold in greater Richmond. Proper levels of home insulation improve the home’s thermal barrier to battle the harsh climate. Upgrading home insulation helps lower energy bills and improves the level of comfort indoors. Two primary types of home insulation commonly used include fiberglass and cellulose. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of both.

The pros and cons of fiberglass include:

• Heat retention — During extremely cold weather, fiberglass does not hold heat well.
• Cost — Fluffy, pink fiberglass is inexpensive but highly effective.
• Installation — Relatively easy to install, you don’t need any special training to lay it in your home, but if improperly installed it will perform to its capacity.
• Safety — Fiberglass won’t burn, as its constructed from inorganic materials, whereas cellulose, constructed of paper particles, ignites quickly. Fiberglass will only melt at very high temperatures.

Cellulose offers these advantages and disadvantages:

• Heat retention — In exceptionally cold weather, cellulose will retain its heat.
• Safety — Treated with either boric acid, borax nitrate or ammonium sulfate, cellulose is highly fire retardant. Unfortunately, the chemicals may have adverse effects on the respiratory system of the home’s inhabitants.
• Installation — Installing cellulose home insulation requires special tools, and it’s generally a task that only professionals should do. Because cellulose is blown into wall cavities, and can extend to hard-to-reach places, it can be installed in multiple, flexible locations.
• Green — Cellulose is considered a green alternative because its made from recycled paper. It also takes much less energy to manufacture.