This month we’re tapping into the Halloween spirit and assessing all the spooky facts we know about traditional home insulation. Is every type of insulation safe? Are they all equally effective? Let’s take a look at the major types of traditional insulation: fiberglass and cellulose.

Fiberglass Insulation

Traditional fiberglass home insulation has been a go-to for builders for decades. It was initially favored due to its non-flammable nature. However, as society made a shift to focus on health, fiberglass insulation wasn’t shown to be an overwhelming crowd pleaser.

 Spooky Fiberglass Facts:

• Fiberglass particles have the ability to be ingested into the lungs or can be embedded into the skin, even after installation.
• Health concerns with fiberglass include an increased risk of respiratory illnesses and physical reactions such as nosebleeds and skin irritations.
• Moisture leaks may compromise your fiberglass insulation, resulting in the need to re-insulate the entire affected area.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose was one of the first materials used in home insulation. It didn’t become popular amongst home builders until the 1970s because of its flammable nature. After a fire retardant was added for safety purposes, it was widely used and portrayed as more environmentally friendly. Yet, that doesn’t mean it’s better for people or more effective for your home.

 Spooky Cellulose Facts:

• When in contact with moisture, cellulose insulation becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew because of the general makeup of the foundation (shredded paper).
• The R-value decreases over time, making your home insulation efforts less effective.
• There is no built in vapor barrier with cellulose insulation, so you need extra protection with this option — and this increases the cost of your home insulation.

In an effort to move away from these traditional forms of residential insulation, we recommend using spray foam insulation in your home. Spray foam is less spooky in nature because it is able to handle environmental factors and stands the test of time better than traditional home insulation materials.

• Once cured, spray foam insulation increases the air quality of your home by protecting you and your loved ones from irritants such as pollens, dust, and other allergens.
• Spray foam insulation can last the lifetime of your home, when applied correctly. This is a much better option, compared to cellulose home insulation which has a lifespan of 20-30 years.
• Being both a vapor barrier and moisture barrier, spray foam insulation has your home covered better than fiberglass insulation, which holds no protection against moisture.

MPI Foam cares about the health of your home and the health of your family. We’re not into spooky home insulation, so give us a call to better protect your home with spray foam insulation today.