Last Updated on June 29, 2024 by Spray Foam Insulation Plus
There are two main types of insulation that can be used to insulate your home, cellulose and spray foam. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before deciding which one is best for your particular situation.
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Benefits and Drawbacks
Two types of insulation dominate the North American market, cellulose and spray foam. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products that have been treated with flame retardants and then blown into place around the framing or cavity of a house to fill in any gaps in order to keep warm air inside. Cellulose seals up holes in walls much better than fiberglass batts do because it’s so fluffy and can pack into tight spaces more easily than flat sheets of material like fiberglass batt insulation do.
Spray foam insulation is an “expanding” product that uses chemicals to harden into a rigid barrier when sprayed from a special nozzle onto the surface being insulated; similar products are used for sealing cracks around windows & doors or for filling voids where pipes pass through exterior walls (like those found within basements). Once dried out under pressure over time, this type will not compress or settle as easily as regular SPF does despite its lower density per cubic foot compared with standard cellulose products offered by most companies today (R-value=3).
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products that have been treated with flame retardants. It can be used to insulate just about any kind of structure, including attics, walls, crawl spaces and even floors. Cellulose is not as expensive as spray foam insulation, but it does require more time and effort to install. One advantage of cellulose over other forms of insulation is its longevity—it will last for decades if installed properly and regularly maintained by homeowners.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is a newer type of insulation applied through a spray nozzle. The most common types are polyurethane foam and polyiso foam.
- Polyurethane foam is the most commonly used type of spray foam; it’s less expensive than polyiso, but still has some advantages over other types of insulation like cellulose or fiberglass.
- Polyiso (polyisocyanurate) is an expanded version of urethane with higher R-values per inch than traditional insulators. However, it’s also more expensive and can only be used in certain climates where temperatures don’t drop below -20°F (-28°C). Because it expands so much during installation, special tools are required to apply this material properly; these tools must then be cleaned after each use so they’re ready for the next job!
Differences Between Them
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper and is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Cellulose is an excellent choice for homeowners looking to increase the energy efficiency of their home with minimal cost. However, when compared to spray foam insulation, cellulose has one major drawback: it’s not as durable or long-lasting as spray foam.
In addition to being more expensive than cellulose insulation, spray foam provides superior thermal performance while providing a quieter, cleaner home environment. Spray foam also offers many benefits over traditional methods of insulating your home, such as being easier to install and more durable than fiberglass batts or loose-fill cellulose products like blown loose fill cellulose (LIFECEL™) or blown-in fiberglass insulation (BIF).
We hope you have enjoyed this brief comparison of spray foam insulation and cellulose insulation. Both types of insulation are very popular in the North American market, but they each have their own set of pros and cons. We recommend consulting with an insulation expert before deciding which one is right for your home or business! You can contact us at Spray Foam Insulation Plus, located in Golden Valley MN, for more information today!
