Materials

• Cellulose and fiberglass are the two most often used types of blown in insulation. Both are recycled products. Cellulose insulation is ground paper products treated with a flame retardant. Fiberglass insulation is similar to batt or roll fiberglass insulation except in smaller pieces to accommodate installation through a blower. Fiberglass insulation often is made of recycled glass.
  
  

Insulating Quality

• Cellulose provides a little more insulation quality for each inch of material. The effectiveness of insulation is expressed as an "R value," where the "R" stands for the level of resistance to heat flow, meaning how well it stops heat from escaping. Blown-in cellulose is about R 3.5 per inch of installed products while blown in fiberglass provides about R 2.5 per inch. The actual insulation quality for the product varies depending on the density of the final product as it lays in place in the structure.
  
  

Suggested Thickness

• The thicker the covering of blown in insulation the more insulation quality the product provides. The suggested level of insulation varies somewhat with the climate. However, an attic insulation totaling about R-38 is recommended in northern climates. To accommodate this level of insulation requires up to a foot of cellulose insulation or 17 inches of fiberglass.
  
  

Insulation Installation

• Blowing insulation can be a do-it-yourself job, if you have a little help. Insulation hoses and blowers are available from rental outlets or from home improvement outlets that sell insulation. One worker feeds the bagged insulation into the blower while the other uses the hose to blow the insulation into the home. Both workers need to wear breathing masks and eye protection when working with insulation. Measure the depth of the insulation from time to time to make sure you are installing the proper amount.