Passive House Certified Consultant
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Insulation FAQs
Cellulose insulation is made from newspapers, so it will burn
The cellulose we use is an 83% recycled content, primarily over-issue newsprint and other ground wood paper sources. The paper is reduced to cellulose fiber and infused with borate (a naturally occurring mineral). Borate gives cellulose a Class A fire rating. In fact, a cellulose insulated structure is arguably safer than one insulated with another insulation, because borate treated cellulose helps limit the spread of a fire and produces no smoke.
Cellulose is expensive?
As a rule, cellulose insulation costs more to install than fiberglass and less to install than sprayed foams. Because it saves so much more energy than fiberglass, the extra expense is quickly recovered.
Cellulose produces funny smells
The cellulose insulation we install is 100% borate formulations (for fire, pest and mold resistance). Borate is on odorless mineral that doesn't outgas, which is a fancy way to say 100% borate products don't produce funny smells. Some cellulose manufacturers use an ammonium sulfate/borate mix. Their products can produce objectionable odors, under the right conditions. If you insist on an all borate formulations, you'll never have this problem.
Cellulose is made from paper, so if it gets wet, that's a problem
First, no insulation will handle a failed structure or assembly that is allowing liquid water to enter in any meaningful quantity. None! With that out of the way, the other moisture that you find in walls is airborne humidity. Among commonly used insulations, cellulose is the only one that can manage this moisture by dispersing it and transporting it through the cavity. In other words, cellulose manages the natural moisture drives that occur in every structure. No other commonly used insulation product can make that claim.
To learn more about getting a Home Energy Audit and the upgrades we offer call us at 201-735-7600.
