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Attic Insulation
1) The 1st place to invest - But How much is enough?
2) What is R value?
3) How can I tell if I have enough R value insulation?
4) Won't that much insulation block my eve vents?
5) What types of insulation do professionals use?
6) What types of blown insulation are available?
The 1st place
to invest - But How much is enough?
While village, town and county codes
vary widely. The Department of Energy's Recommendation for this area is minimum
R 38 value up to R49 optimum.
What is R value?
R-value is a
unit of measurement of resistance to heat flow. The higher the R value the more
heat you retain in the winter and the more heat you keep out in the summer.
How can I tell if I have enough R
value insulation?
As a Rule of thumb R38 translates into 14'' of
insulation.
Won't that much insulation block my
eve vents?
It can if not properly dealt with. Eve venting is critical to
your homes well being. Lack of eve venting can cause ice dams, roof
deterioration, insulation degradation, roof deck rot, and mold growth. That is
why a professional in home estimate/evaluation is recommended.
What types of insulation do
professionals use?
Each type of insulation is best suited for a
particular application. For attic retrofit insulation professionals recommend
blown (loose fill) over batts (rolled) insulation. See comparison chart
below.
| BENEFIT | LOOSE-FILL (BLOWN) | BATT |
| FULL COVERAGE IN ALL AREAS TO ELIMINATE HEAT LEAKAGE | YES! PROVIDES FULL AND UNIFORM COVERAGE OF AREAS, INCLUDING THOSE DIFFICULT AREAS BETWEEN CROSS BRACING AND TRUSS BRACING. ALSO COVERS ENTIRE AREA OVER TRUSSES AND JOISTS, THEREBY FILLING GAPS TO ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBLE HEAT LEAKAGE |
NO! DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY FILL AREAS BETWEEN CROSS BRACING AND TRUSS BRACING. BATTS WHICH ARE PRE-CUT TO STANDARD WIDTHS CAN LEAVE GAPS AND OPENINGS THAT ALLOW HEAT LEAKAGE. |
| OPTIMUM R-VALUE | YES! ALLOWS OPTIMUM R-VALUE TO BE INSTALLED. CAN ACHIEVE AN R-VALUE AS HIGH AS R-38 AND R-49 TO MEET GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR THIS AREA. |
NO! MAY REQUIRE CUSTOMER TO USE MORE OR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN OPTIMUM R-VALUE THAT JOB REQUIRES. THIS CAN COST THE CUSTOMER MORE MATERIAL THAN IS ECONOMICALLY DESIRABLE, OR IF AN UNDER-RATED BATT IS USED, IT CAN COST THE CUSTOMER ENERGY SAVING DOLLARS. |
| PREVENTS MOISTURE BUILD-UP | YES! DOES NOT PERMIT MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN INSULATION. PERMITS USE OF VENT CHUTES TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM EVE VENTILATION. |
NO! LAYERED BATTS CAN TRAP MOISTURE BETWEEN LAYERS AND CAUSE CONDENSATION. IF BATTS ARE FACED AND NOT PROPERLY APPLIED TO THE LAST DETAIL, THE VAPOR BARRIER FREQUENTLY CAUSES MOISTURE ACCUMULATION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN WATER DAMAGE. AT LOW SLOPE ROOFS, BATTS MUST BE COMPRESSED AT EVES. |
| PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION | YES! ALMOST ALWAYS INSTALLED PROFESSIONALLY DUE TO COST OF EQUIPMENT (BLOWERS,HOSES, ETC.) THE PRO KNOWS HOW AND WHERE TO INSULATE, AND HE HAS THE RIGHT MATERIALS AND TOOLS TO DO THE JOB. THE PRO KNOWS ALL THE SAFETY HAZARDS TO AVOID. FURTHER, "PRO PINK" LOOSE FILL IS MANUFACTURED UNDER STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL, WITH ITS COVERAGE AND DENSITY LABELED ON EVERY BAG. |
NO! MOST OFTEN INSTALLED BY DO-IT YOUR SELFERS WHO NOT ONLY LACK THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, BUT USUALLY THE SKILL AND EXPERIENCE TO DO A COMPLETE AND PROPER INSTALLATION. ALSO, THE DO-IT YOUR SELFER IS OFTEN UNAWARE OF SAFETY HAZARDS IN THE ATTIC. |
| COST SAVINGS | YES! PREFERRED BY MOST CONTRACTORS FOR INSULATING ATTIC AREAS BECAUSE IT SAVES INSTALLATION TIME LABOR AND MATERIALS. SINCE MOST JOBS ARE COMPETITIVELY BID, THESE SAVINGS CAN BE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER. |
NO! DIFFICULT TO INSTALL PROPERLY IN TIGHT ATTIC AREAS, TAKES LONGER, USES MORE MATERIALS, AND MORE LABOR. THE RESULT: ADDED COST RATHER THAN COST SAVINGS. |
| RETROFIT INSULATION | YES! CAN BE QUICKLY, CLEANLY, AND ACCURATELY APPLIED AFTER DWELLING HAS BEEN OCCUPIED. CAN BE INSTALLED UNDER FLOORED AREAS MORE EFFICIENTLY. |
NO! PROPER APPLICATION, WITH CORRECT STAPLING ON FLANGES, NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE AFTER COMPLETION OF DWELLING. MOREOVER, SOME ACCESSES TO ATTICS ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE STANDARD BATT PACKAGING. TO INSULATE FLOORED AREAS, FLOORING MUST BE REMOVED & REINSTALLED COMPLETELY. |
What types of blown insulation are
available?
The predominant loose fill blown insulations used by
professionals
are compared below.
| FEATURE | CELLULOSE | MINERAL FIBER | "CHOPPED" FIBERGLASS | VIRGIN FIBERGLASS |
| DOMINANT RAW MATERIAL | OLD NEWSPAPER AND OTHER SCRAP PAPER PRODUCTS. ORGANIC MATERIAL | REFINED SMELTER ORE INORGANIC RECYCLED MATERIAL. | TYPICALLY REJECT BATT OR BOARD STOCK . | REFINED SILICA SAND AND RECYCLED GLASS MATERIAL. INORGANIC MATERIAL. |
| PRODUCTION PROCESS | PAPER IS GROUND INTO A FINE DUST-LIKE CONSISTENCY. | ORE IS MELTED AND SPUN INTO LONG MINERAL FIBERS. | CHOPPED OR SHREDDED BY-PRODUCT, CAN BE AN IRRITANT. | SAND IS MELTED WITH RECYCLED GLASS AND SPUN INTO GLASS FIBER. FOR SUPERIOR CONSISTENCY. |
| CHEMICAL ADDITIVES | LARGE AMOUNTS OF BORAX AND BORIC ACID, PLUS OTHER ADDITIVES. | (IMPURITIES) CONTAIN MISCELLANEOUS MINERALS. | CAN CONTAIN ADHESIVES & DYES. | CAN CONTAIN SOME NON TOXIC DYES. |
| FIRE PROOF | FIRE RESISTANT, BUT WHEN IGNITED CAN SUPPORT COMBUSTION. ADDITIVES OFTEN DISSIPATE OVER TIME. | NON-COMBUSTIBLE. WILL NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION. WILL NOT MELT UNLESS TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 2,000° F. | NON-COMBUSTIBLE WILL NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION. WILL NOT MELT UNLESS TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 1,000° F. | NON-COMBUSTIBLE. WILL NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION. WILL NOT MELT UNLESS TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 1,200° F. |
| SETTLING | SOME TESTS INDICATE 20% TO 30% SETTLING OVER TIME. | NO SIGNIFICANT SETTLING. | MORE BASIC PRODUCT. CAN SETTLE IF "OVERBLOWN" | NO SIGNIFICANT SETTLING WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED. FIBERS MANUFACTURED UNDER STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL. |
| MOISTURE ABSORPTION | ORGANIC FIBERS WILL READILY ABSORB LARGE AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE. EMITS FIRE RETARDANT CHEMICALS WHILE DRYING. | INORGANIC FIBERS WILL NOT ABSORB MOISTURE. | INORGANIC FIBERS WILL NOT ABSORB MOISTURE. | INORGANIC FIBERS WILL NOT ABSORB MOISTURE. |
| INSTALLED STABILITY | FINE, DUST-LIKE FIBERS ARE SUBJECT TO DRIFTING AND LEACHING INTO LIVING AREAS. | FIBERS INTERLOCK WHEN INSTALLED. GOOD RESISTANCE TO DRIFTING. | INCONSISTENT. LIGHT FLUFFY FIBERS ARE SUBJECT TO DRIFTING. REQUIRES EXTRA CARE TO INSURE PROPER R-VALUE. | SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED & MANUFACTURED UNDER STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL TO INSURE QUICK, CLEAN PERMANENT PERFORMANCE. |
| WEIGHT TO R-VALUE RATIO | HIGH - OVER 1.8 LB./SQ. FT. AT R-38 VALUE. SHOULD NOT BE USED OVER LIGHTER INSULATIONS. |
HIGH- OVER 1.6 LB./ SQ. FT. AT R-38 VALUE. SHOULD NOT BE USED OVER LIGHTER INSULATIONS. | LOW - ONLY .645 LB. OR LESS AT R-38 VALUE. CAN BE USED OVER ANY EXISTING INSULATION. SUPERIOR FOR TRUSS & DRYWALL CONSTRUCTION. | LOW - ONLY .675 LB. / SQ. FT. AT R-38 VALUE. CAN BE USED OVER ANY EXISTING INSULATION. SUPERIOR FOR TRUSS & DRYWALL CONSTRUCTION. |
| SOUND REDUCTION | GOOD. | GOOD. | FAIR. | FAIR. |
| MOLD/FUNGUS RESISTANCE | SUPPORTS GROWTH. | DOES NOT SUPPORT GROWTH. | DOES NOT SUPPORT GROWTH. | DOES NOT SUPPORT GROWTH. |
All Comfort recommends Owens Corning Pro Pink virgin fiberglass. It is clean, lightweight, noncombustible, non hydroscopic, and won't support mold or mildew. Has the texture cotton & contains no chemical by-products. Other products simple do not measure up.
For more information, call, fax, or e-mail All Comfort Insulation.All Comfort Insulation,
Inc.
516 Winthrop - Addison, IL 60101
PH 630-543-2626 * Fax 630-543-2694
* Chicago, IL PH 773-622-3363
Click Here For Map
Business Hours * Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM -
5:00 PM
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