What Are the Benefits of Foam Vs. Cellulose Insulation?

Cellulose

• Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers and wood fibers, so if you are looking for a more eco-friendly insulation -- cellulose is a good choice. In addition to being an all-around effective insulation material to eliminate drafts and air seepage, cellulose is also favored for its sound insulation properties. Cellulose insulation comes in four application varieties -- loose fill, blow-in, spray on and dense pack. Dense pack is the type used for sound insulation and in between joists and tight areas. The loose and blow-in types are used for floors, walls and ceilings.

Cellulose Benefits

• All types of cellulose are easy enough to handle for a DIY insulation project. This gives cellulose a "one up" in comparison to foam, which typically requires installation by a trained and licensed professional. Compared to fiberglass (another popular DIY choice), cellulose will provide greater insulation efficiency. Insulation is rated for efficiency based on an "R-value." The R-value measures how much heat the insulation can resist. Cellulose is denser than fiberglass and that makes it more effective and efficient at stopping air from penetrating through its fibers. That's why cellulose has a 3.6 to 3.8 R-value -- which is lower than foam, but higher than fiberglass, which only has a 2.2 to 2.6 R-value rating. Because cellulose is composed of wood materials, it is treated with borates during its manufacturing process to make it fire retardant and to repel insects.

Foam Insulation

• Foam insulation is used for commercial insulation applications. It is made of molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS), extruded expanded polystyrene (XEPS) or a combination of polyurethane and polysiocyanurates. Liquid spray foam applications are use for targeting specific areas, and MEPS and XEPS is manufactured as foam board panels. Foam is used in residences, but on a much smaller scale. Examples of residential use of foam include insulation for targeted areas such as spaces that house electrical circuitry boards for a home media room and "spot" insulation around alarm systems and ductwork for kitchen and bath appliances.

Foam Benefits

• Commercial buildings often have tight spaces and intricate electrical wiring and circuitry that require precise applications, and insulation materials that remain stable. That's the benefit of foam. It sprays on and stays in place, and the installer can target applications more precisely. Foam also has the highest of all R-value ratings for insulation, ranging from 4 to 8, while cellulose stops at 3.8. This makes foam more efficient and beneficial at preventing air infiltration and lowering energy costs. This is an important consideration when you think about the amount of square footage inside of high-rise buildings and large industrial spaces, which justifies the choice of foam over cellulose, because of benefits gained by using foam insulation.