Blown-In Insulation in Erie, PA

Blown-in insulation is cellulose or fiberglass in loose form, blown through a hose into attics and wall cavities. On an open attic floor it is the most economical way to reach the R-49 Pennsylvania's code lists for new ceilings in Zone 5, and it fills around wires, pipes and framing without gaps. In closed walls, dense-packed cellulose fills empty stud bays in older homes without tearing out plaster.

Cellulose vs fiberglass

Cellulose is made mostly from recycled paper treated for fire resistance. It is heavier than fiberglass and, when dense-packed, slows air movement through a cavity as well as heat. Fiberglass loose fill is lighter, does not absorb water, and is often used in attics. Fixr lists blown fiberglass at $1.65 to $2.60 and cellulose at $1.75 to $3.80 per square foot. Both work well in an attic that has been air sealed first.

Attics

We seal the attic floor first, install baffles at the eaves, then blow loose fill to depth with markers left in place so you can see what was installed. In Erie's older homes, that usually means going from a few inches of old fill to well over a foot.

Walls in older homes

Many older Erie houses have empty walls. We drill small holes, from outside under the siding or from inside through plaster, insert a tube and pack each bay tight with cellulose. Balloon-framed walls need the tops and bottoms of bays blocked so fill does not fall into the basement. We check for live old wiring before filling any wall.

Where foam is better

Loose fill does not seal rim joists, kneewall floors or rooflines, and it should not go in a damp crawl space. Those spots get foam. Most of our quotes combine both.