AFT Insulation – Insulating Your Attic, Walls, and Ceilings

The insulation industry continues to grow and so does the variety of products available. Insulation is an important part of a well-designed home and a key to energy efficiency. In addition to reducing air leakage, it helps reduce convective and radiative losses from the home.

In attics, loose-fill cellulose offers R-values of up to 3.6 or 3.8 per inch depending on the manufacturer. In walls, two techniques can be used: dense-pack or wet spray foam insulation. With dense-pack, installers use forms to blow cellulose into closed wall cavities at a high density of 3 to 31/2 lbs./ft3. This method does not require water, but installers must carefully control moisture in the building enclosure.

AFT Insulation: A Smart Investment for Long-Term Savings

Wet-spray cellulose can also be installed in a wall, but it must have adequate drying potential, which requires a moisture-permeable exterior sheathing such as one-by lumber or asphalt-impregnated fiberboard. Lstiburek says that a vapor barrier is usually required for wet-spray cellulose in northern climates to prevent moisture absorption into the building envelope.

Cellulose is produced from paper fibers—primarily recycled newsprint and cardboard—and made at plants throughout the country. Louisiana-Pacific, the first national marketer of cellulose under its Nature Guard brand, is giving the product an image boost by sponsoring a program to guarantee low heating bills in new homes insulated with it.

Unlike fiberglass batts, which are compressed during installation, loose-fill cellulose can maintain its R-value over time. This is because it is less susceptible to settling, which can occur when the attic is heated and cooled repeatedly. This is a major advantage over other insulation materials such as fiberglass, foam, and rock wool.

AFT Insulation
62 Lighthouse Ln, Westport, MA 02790, United States
(774) 458-9833