Dense Blown Insulation Vs. Foam Insulation

Dense Blown Insulation

• Dense blown insulation is made of cellulose and is blown into wall cavities, into corners and around pipes and ductwork using a sprayer, which allows the installer to target specific areas that require a dense concentration of installation material. It is composed of wood fibers and recycled newspapers and treated with borates to control pests and to make the insulation fire retardant. Dense blown insulation is a good choice to keep air from seeping in and for soundproofing.

Foam Insulation

• Available in spray-on and panel applications, foam insulation is used for both residential and commercial insulation projects. Like dense blow-in cellulose insulation, the spray-on type of foam is a good choice for targeting hard-to-reach areas such as crevices and corners. Spray-on foam insulation is made of synthetic materials and is used for both residential and commercial insulation projects. Foam panel insulation is made of expanded polystyrene (MEPS) and extruded expanded polystyrene (XEPS). Foam panels are more often used for commercial applications to insulate expensive computer networks and electronic circuitry in office buildings.

Similarities

• Dense blow-in and foam insulation are never the main insulation material used for home projects. Roll-on fiberglass is commonly used for the main insulation material to cover large spaces such as floors and walls of attics. Both dense-blown insulation and all varieties of foam have high R-value ratings that range from 3 to 8. The rating indicates how much heat the insulation can resist, such as hot air or even fire. For example, the R-value for the pink-colored fiberglass insulation that you often see in homes only ranges from 2.2 to 2.6. Dense blow-in insulation and foam are only sold to licensed insulation installers; they are not suited for do-it-yourself insulation projects.

Differences

• While dense blow-in insulation and foam share high R-value ratings, the rating for foam is the highest of all types of insulation. Dense blow-in insulation R-ratings stop at 3.8, and ratings for foam begin at 4 and go as high as 8. The other major difference is that dense blow-in insulation only comes in a spray-on application while foam comes in sprays and panels.