The evolution of residential and commercial building insulation has brought us to this point—a place where there are so many choices and new materials that finding the right one seems almost impossible. Well, the truth of the matter is that the newest insulations on the market are not always the best for your home or situation, and that sometimes you only have to look as far as the time-tested options. In this case, that option may be cellulose.
Right now you might be thinking, “Wait, cellulose? Like paper?” And you would be right, because cellulose insulation in Ontario is derived from paper—but it’s also so much more than that. Read on to find out more about why cellulose is such a great insulation material:
- It’s paper, only better: Using paper as insulation is not a new idea, but it is one that has been perfected. It’s not uncommon to find an old home with crumpled newspaper in its walls. Back then, the material was not fire safe and wasn’t in a form that would keep the heat out and the cold in, or vice versa. Today, cellulose is a spray-in material that has been treated to be fire resistant.
- It’s environmentally friendly: Unlike some forms of insulation, cellulose is a material that is derived from recycled paper, making it one of the more environmentally conscious options on the market today. According to some studies, fiberglass takes as much as eight times the energy to produce as cellulose insulation in Ontario.
- It is safe for your family: As we mentioned earlier, cellulose insulation is treated to resist fire. Those chemicals are non-toxic and many insulation professionals consider it to be a better option than fiberglass where fire is concerned, because it acts as a mechanism to choke fire as it travels throughout a home or other building. While there aren’t many safety issues with fiberglass, it can irritate skin, which can lead to a less than pleasant couple of hours if you have an accident during installation. With cellulose, you get none of that.
- How it’s put in: Unlike roll insulation, cellulose is blown in between studs and into attic spaces through a device that looks like a big vacuum hose. A benefit of a blown-in material is you get better coverage than you would with roll materials. This results in no lingering gaps caused by warped studs or hard-to-access areas. Spray-in materials mean you have an even and consistent covering of insulation throughout the home. Because of the application process, in some cases, you don’t even need to remove drywall—simply drill a small hole, spray in the insulation and patch it up.
Now that you know why cellulose insulation is such a smart alternative to fiberglass insulation, it’s time to move forward on that re-insulation project you’ve been putting off. Call the team of professional insulation installers at Chase Insulation to learn more about the benefits of blown-in cellulose insulation in Ontario—or inquire about any of our other insulation products. We can also help you choose the right material for your specific project!