Whether you’re building a new house or remodeling your current home, it’s important to choose the right type of insulation. This is especially true for your attic, as choosing the wrong type of insulation could result in high energy bills, roof damage, and more. There are many different types of insulation to choose from, but blown-in insulation is dominating the market. 

If you’re curious and want to know more about blown-in insulation and why it’s so popular, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain everything you need to know about this type of insulation. We’ll also look at who to call when you need a top-notch roof installed atop your insulation-filled attic. 

What is Blown-In Insulation? 

Blown-in insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation on the market. Also known as loose insulation, blown-in insulation is especially common in attics. “Blown” refers to the manner in which it’s installed because it gets blown through a hose and into your attic. Blown-in insulation looks similar to the insides of a pillow and is made of shards of cellulose, fiberglass, or styrofoam. 

One of the reasons that blown-in insulation is so popular is that you can easily install it after most of the other components in your attic are installed. This includes things like your plumbing pipes, HVAC ducts, and electrical wires. The insulation flows into the attic and easily fills out around everything beneath it. 

How Much Blown-in Insulation Do I Need? 

Because of how blown-in insulation is designed and created, you need lots of it to do the job of a typical roll of insulation. In most cases, you should have around 10 to 14 inches of blown insulation in your attic to ensure it can get the job done. While this might sound like a lot of insulation, it remains loose and free after installation, which means you can access the things beneath it. 

Different Types of Blown-In Insulation 

While all blown-in insulation gets installed the same way and looks similar, there are several different types of blown insulation. 

Cellulose 

Cellulose insulation is the most common type of blown insulation currently in use. Cellulose consists of recycled paper and fiberglass and is one of the more expensive types of insulation. However, because it’s a better insulator, you don’t need as much as when you use other types of insulation. Cellulose blown insulation is also flame-retardent and very eco-friendly. 

Fiberglass 

Aside from cellulose, fiberglass blown insulation is the most common option available. Fiberglass is also the material of choice for rolled batts of insulation. This type of insulation is cheaper than cellulose, but it also has a lower R-value and can be toxic if you accidentally inhale it. 

Mineral Wool

Finally, you have the option of using mineral wool for your blown insulation material. As with cellulose, mineral wool has a good R-value. It’s also much denser and heavier than other types of blown insulation and has a more powdery consistency. Mineral wool has excellent insulation and soundproofing qualities, but it’s also fairly pricy. 

Contact us to find out what type of insulation goes best with a shingle or metal roof in Texas! 

How is Blown-In Insulation Installed? 

As the name indicates, blown insulation gets blown into your attic through a large hose. The hose is attached to a large bin or container that holds large amounts of your insulation of choice. The hose is powered by a motor that you can turn on and off as needed. 

To visualize how this system operates, picture a massive leaf blower with a plus-sized hose at the end. Rather than blowing air, however, the backside of the blower is connected to a container of insulation. Therefore, when you activate the blower, it forces bits of insulation through the hose and into your attic.  

Advantages of Blown-In Insulation 

Affordable 

Compared to other options, blown insulation is one of the more affordable insulations on the market. It’s very cheap to make, and most of your cost will come from the professional installation. 

Easy to Install 

Blown-in insulation is also the fastest and easiest insulation to install. You simply blow the insulation into your attic and keep blowing until you’re satisfied. 

Flame Resistant 

One of the biggest advantages of blown-in insulation is that it’s very flame-retardant. Blown insulation is coated with a special chemical that makes it immune to fires and heat. 

Very Efficient 

All types of blown insulation are very efficient compared to other forms of insulation. As long as you blow enough of it into your attic, you will experience lower energy bills down the road. 

Repels Insects and Rodents

In the same way that blown insulation is toxic for humans when inhaled, it’s also toxic for insects, birds, and rodents. Therefore, these pests won’t last long if they find their way into your attic. 

Drawbacks of Blown-In Insulation 

You Can’t Install It Yourself 

The main downside of blown insulation is that it requires a special blower and additional equipment to install. Therefore, you will need to hire a professional insulation company for the installation. 

It’s Very Messy 

If you ever need to crawl around in your attic for anything, you’ll find that blown insulation is one of the messiest insulations around. You typically need 10 to 14 inches of the stuff, which means it’s impossible to avoid if you need to access your attic. 

Difficult to Access Things Below the Insulation 

You should also be careful not to drop anything in your attic after the insulation is installed. Tools and other objects that you happen to drop in your attic will be extremely difficult to find. Additionally, if you ever need to locate lights, wires, or other components in your attic, good luck finding them beneath the mounds of insulation. 

Contact KangaRoof For All Your Roofing Needs

Once you’ve settled on the type of insulation you want in your attic, you need to hire a company to install a roof on top of it. Your roof and the insulation in your attic go hand in hand with one another, and it’s important to have the best of both. 

When it comes to roof installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance, nobody does it better than Shreiner’s KangaRoof. We have nearly three decades of experience in the roofing industry and have some of the most experienced roofing professionals around. Contact us for a consultation or to learn more about our roofing services!