When you’re considering getting new insulation in your home, you must choose the right type for the purpose that it’s going to serve. At St. Louis Insulation, we can help you understand what you’re getting and why it’s the best for your home. In this case, we’ll be comparing dense-pack cellulose vs. spray foam insulation. Each is highly effective in insulating your home, but their materials, applications, and installation methods are different. Keep reading to learn more about each.
Material
Dense-pack cellulose
Widely regarded has one of the most eco-friendly insulation materials, dense-pack cellulose is made from recycled paper. The materials of cellulose make it efficient at blocking air movement through your walls as it creates a tightly packed barrier within the wall.
Spray foam
While spray foam comes in two variations of open-cell and closed-cell, it’s all made from a combination of synthetic materials called isocyanate and polyurethane. These materials are effective in creating a tight seal that blocks moisture and sound.
Applications
Dense-pack cellulose
If you have an older home that does’t have sufficient wall insulation in the outer walls, you can have dense-pack cellulose installed and you’ll have walls that meet or exceed standards set for new homes.
Spray foam
Like dense-pack cellulose, spray foam can be easily installed into wall cavities of a home that needs an insulation update. However, it’s also easily applied to areas that are difficult to reach as the foam is easily sprayed onto a wall or ceiling.
Installation methods
Dense-pack cellulose
Dense-pack cellulose is also known as Drill and Fill insulation because of its simple installation method. Contractors can drill holes in the wall then blow loose cellulose into the cavity in the wall at a high pressure until it’s full. The pressure ensures that you’re not simply dropping the material into the wall cavity but that it’s packed and creates a solid barrier. This process will be completed for every wall cavity, which means that you’ll have holes drilled into your walls about every 16 to 24 inches, depending on the separation of the studs.
Spray foam
Among all types of insulation, spray foam is also a simple and efficient method as it’s sprayed into the walls of your home. This is done until it completely fills the space regardless of the shape. The spray application of spray foam makes it easy to cover ducts and associated HVAC equipment as it creates a tight seal around that will prevent air leakage.
Advantages
Dense-pack cellulose
Of all the methods of insulating a home, dense-pack cellulose provides the simplest and most cost-effective installation method. Its eco-friendly materials and low-impact production methods help to create a greener home.
Spray foam
Spray foam is one of the most effective methods for creating an airtight seal in walls, corners, and even around air ducts as it expands on impact and as it dries. By spraying foam insulation around air ducts, you can ensure that there aren’t going to be any tiny leaks that nickel and dime your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
Disadvantages
Dense-pack cellulose
When wet-spray installation is performed with dense-pack cellulose, it requires a much longer drying time than when a dry installation is done. If the insulation isn’t allowed to dry for an adequate amount of time, it can lead to severe water damage in your home. In areas like St. Louis that have high humidity, it can take several weeks to allow for complete drying.
Spray foam
While spray foam insulation is great at closing gaps as it expands, this isn’t always the case. The installer might not fill a space enough to get the proper amount of expansions which can leave certain cavities without insulation and create open air. These spaces are prone to developing moisture that can cause water damage that spreads from the original location.
Reach out for an estimate
If you’d like to learn more from our experts about the comparisons of dense-pack cellulose vs. spray foam insulation, get in touch with our team today at St. Louis Insulation. We can also provide you with an estimate to upgrade the insulation in your home. We look forward to hearing from you.