Frequently Asked Questions
If cellulose is made of recycled paper fiber won’t it burn?
Engineered Cellulose is treated with the mineral Borax, which is a fire retardant; making it a Class "A" fireproof building material.
Although engineered cellulose insulation won’t burn, other building components like framing lumber and plywood will burn. But because engineered cellulose insulation is an air retardant, buildings insulated with engineered cellulose limit combustion air, slowing fire and noxious smoke, allowing occupants extra time to escape.
Won’t vermin like insects or rodents eat or nest in cellulose?
No, engineered cellulose contains an EPA approved insecticide additive that is completely safe to humans.
So engineered cellulose is an air retardant, but don’t buildings need to breath?
“Build Tight, Ventilate Right” – to maximize indoor air quality, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) recommends controlled building ventilation. Buildings with less than .35 Air Changes per Hour (ACH) may require mechanical ventilation. However, most buildings leak far more than this and in an uncontrolled manner. This is a major contributor to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). The only way to know a building’s leakage is with a calibrated blower door test. One rule of thumb is 15 CFM per person. Use of bathroom and kitchen vent fans is recommended.
Isn't Icynene foam insulation better?
Spray foam insulations like Icynene have a lower R-Value and will burn/smoke because they are petroleum based. They can off-gas. They repel moisture and concentrate it onto other building materials. They typically cost twice as much as cellulose.
What about fiberglass insulation?
Will the cellulose settle?
Wall spray cellulose does not settle as it contains an adhesive and does not degrade over time. Open blow attic installations do settle a small amount but this is no way diminishes its R-Value or performance.
What if it gets wet?
Cellulose is the only insulation that inhibits mold and fungus growth. Once the source of water leakage is fixed, cellulose will dry out and protect adjacent building materials like studs, plywood and sheetrock by wicking away extra moisture.
Is cellulose good at sound deadening?
Cellulose, as a high density, air retardant product, is the best insulation for sound attenuation.
Can my existing home be insulated with cellulose?
Attic - Engineered cellulose insulation is an excellent choice to add over your existing attic insulation (space permitting). The US DOE recommends R-49 attic insulation in NY and CT.
Walls - For older homes with no wall insulation, cellulose can be added via ‘dense packing’.
Basements – insulating basement walls is preferred by building science professionals to insulating the floor over basements to maximize energy savings. However, basement outside walls must be framed and dry to be insulated with cellulose. Ask us about our other methods to insulate basement and crawl space walls.
How is cellulose a ‘green’ product?
First and foremost, buildings insulated with wallspray engineered celulose insulation will save 40% of heating and cooling energy for the building’s life - guaranteed. Also, it is made from recycled materials and contains only natural additives. It is manufactured locally with a low embodied energy process.
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