Experience
We have over 250 years of collective knowledge on our teams.
Experts
All of our installers are carefully selected to be the best in the industry.
Local
We provide warmth and safety throughout the New England area.
Quality
Our insulation will serve you for many, many years to come.
Insulation Type Comparison
| Benefit | Closed Cell Spray Foam | Open Cell Spray Foam | Cellulose
| Fiberglass
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Investment (ROI) | 1-2 Years | 1-2 Years | 3-5 Years | 5+ Years |
| Energy Savings | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Insulation Quality | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Draft Resistance | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Pests Out | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Moisture Proof | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mold & Mildew | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Quality | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Structural Support | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Soundproof | 8 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
Best 9-10
Good 7-8
Average 4-6
Poor 0-3
What Type of Insulation is Best for My Home?
Have questions about different types of insulation, or want to know which is best for your home? Get answers from Colonial Green Products, New England’s insulation experts. We install cellulose and spray foam insulation to make NH, MA, VT, and ME homes more comfortable and energy efficient.
As insulation specialists, it’s no surprise that we get a lot of questions from homeowners about insulation. “What are the different types of insulation?” “What kind of insulation is best for my home?” “Are there types of insulation I should avoid?”
Home insulation is especially important here in New England where winters are frigid. We wanted to take a moment to give you an overview of the different types of insulation and which types offer the greatest benefits.
How Insulation Effectiveness Is Measured
Before we introduce you to the most effective types of insulation, it’s important to understand R-value. R-value measures insulation’s ability to control heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.
Different types of insulation have different R-values. Cellulose insulation, for example, has an R-value of R3.2 to R3.7 per inch in loose fill form. If you wanted to achieve an R-value of, say, R49 in the attic using cellulose, you would need to install enough of it (about 14 to 16 inches) to achieve that R-value.
The Most Effective Types of Insulation
Blown-In Cellulose
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspaper and treated for fire resistance, making it eco friendly. It comes in a loose form, allowing it to be blown into finished areas and hard to reach spaces. It may be used in a loose fill, such as when it’s blown along an a ttic floor, or densely packed in building cavities.
Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation is sprayed on a surface as a liquid and then quickly expands into a foam plastic to fill every hole and crack. Because of this, it has excellent air sealing qualities and can even serve as a vapor barrier. Spray foam is great for air leaks, high moisture areas, and hard to reach spaces.
| Type of Insulation | R-Value Per Inch | Great For |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulose, loose fill | R3.2-R3.9 | Attics |
| Cellulose, densely packed | R3.8-R3.9 | Walls |
| Spray foam, open cell | R3.5-R3.6 | Air leaks, walls, ceilings, floors, areas that need soundproofing |
| Spray foam, closed cell | R6.0-R6.5 | Air leaks, walls, ceilings, floors, crawlspaces, high moisture areas |
At Colonial Green Products, we install high performance cellulose and spray foam insulation because we know that these offer valuable benefits for New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine homeowners, such as:
• Greater overall indoor comfort
• Fewer air leaks and drafts
• Increased home energy efficiency
• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Greater peace and quiet
More helpful insulation information below
Types of Insulation
Spray Foam
A insulating foam plastic spray which applies as a liquid and then expands to make an air-tight seal.
Cellulose
Since Cellulose Insulation is created from a mixture of recycled paper products and binding agents to bring it together, cellulose is considered a “green” product. Cellulose insulation has been used for decades to insulate homes for warmth.
Insulation Costs
Important Areas of Insulation
Walls
Walls make up a lot of the house’s surface area, so it’s not too surprising that a house’s largest heat sink tend to be the walls.
Garage
By insulating your garage you will be protecting your pipes from freezing in winter.
Attic
The fact that “heat rises” makes your attic one of the most important rooms to insulate in your home.
Crawl Space
Not only is crawl space insulation important to keep you warm, but it is also important to keep your pipes from freezing.
Basement
With the proper insulation not only can you keep out the cold, but also many insulation types can keep out pests such as mice, insects, as well as being mold resistant.