Traditional Insulation: Fiberglass, Cellulose, and Cotton Batt

Save on your monthly energy costs with professional whole-home insulation. Green Horizon One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® provides traditional fiberglass insulation, cellulose, and cotton batt insulation in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.

Traditional Insulation Options

In addition to traditional fiberglass insulation, Green Horizon One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® also offers insulation made from made of 100% recycled materials like cellulose and cotton.

Benefits of traditional insulation

There are many benefits to improving your existing insulation. Many homes built before 1990 are drastically under-insulated. By adding to what you have while sealing all the unwanted gaps and cracks, you can achieve energy savings up to 40%. Additionally, it improves noise and comfort issues, making your home a better, more comfortable place to live, or your business a better, more comfortable place to work.

Cellulose, fiberglass and cotton insulation are suitable for commercial and residential buildings, as well as new construction and retrofits. They can also be blown-in as attic insulation or used to densely pack walls. Regardless of where you want to insulate, our expert team can help you decide which choice is right for your specific needs.

There are many incentives available for insulating with traditional insulation, ranging from federal energy-efficient tax credits, to programs like Progress Energy HEIP and Duke Energy Seal and Insulate.

Comparing Fiberglass, Cellulose, and Cotton Insulation

When it comes to home insulation, it comes down to two basic options—a more traditional insulation type or spray foam. Spray foam delivers many benefits, but it is not always easy to install in every space. In addition, it may be more expensive than the more traditional options, depending on what type of space requires insulation.

If traditional insulation is the direction you choose, you still have several options to choose from. The most popular choices are fiberglass, cellulose, and cotton. The differences between these three options are explained below.

Fiberglass

Readily available, low on cost, and easy to install, fiberglass is used in many home insulation projects. Fiberglass insulation is made up of microscopic glass fibers, so installers will handle this material with great care to avoid injury. Fiberglass will insulate against heat transfer but is a poor insulator to sound and moisture. It is flame-retardant, though, so it won’t add unnecessary risk to your home’s construction.

Homeowners can either choose batts or loose-fill for installation. Batts usually fit between the studs in framing, but won’t fit around piping and other odd shapes. Loose-fill solves this issue, which is why this medium is often chosen for attic spaces. Loose-fill fiberglass, however, can compress or shift over time, so it may not be an effective long-term solution.

Cellulose

Made from recycled newspaper and other paper products, cellulose is a more sustainable option over fiberglass. Cellulose is blown into spaces to cover the space needing to be insulated. It is also safer to handle and is made flame-resistant with a borate spray treatment before installation. This spray also resists rodents, insects, mold, and mildew.

As an environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, and safe insulation material, cellulose is quickly gaining popularity as a go-to insulation choice amongst homeowners and builders alike. Cellulose is usually safe to use in walls and crawl spaces, but it may or may not be too heavy for attic joists to support. The installer should take measurements to ensure an attic can bear the weight of any insulation chosen, but especially when heavier material types are used.

Cotton

Cotton is another environmentally-friendly option with similar benefits to cellulose insulation. Like cellulose, cotton is pre-treated with a borate spray to make it flame-retardant, rodent resistant, pest resistant, mold-resistant, and mildew resistant. It typically comes in batt form, so blowing in cotton insulation may not be an available option. Cotton is a bit more expensive than traditional fiberglass but provides adequate insulation with a greener approach.

Considering adding onto your home or starting a new build project?

Retrofitting insulation is often a much different process than new build installs. If you are building an addition to your home or building your dream home, you have the advantage of unlimited insulation options. Therefore, you can choose the best insulation option for your family’s needs.

Our team of professional experts can guide you through the pros and cons of each insulation option to help you make the right choice. Get the most out of your insulation by hiring our team to properly install the material and protect your space.