In our on-going series of posts on the home construction methods I used in my current home, we finally discuss probably the most important strategy I used — spraying foam insulation instead of using fiberglass or cellulose insulation.

First, why choose foam insulation? Compared to standard fiberglass insulation, both cellulose and foam insulation provide superior performance.  Fiberglass tends to leave gaps that reduce its effectiveness.  Fiberglass insulation has a smaller R-value per inch of thickness than both cellulose and foam, but fiberglass is much cheaper than both cellulose and foam.

After removing fiberglass from the equation due to its poor performance by leaving gaps in certain areas, I had to decide on cellulose vs. foam.  Both are excellent products.  For detailed descriptions on each type click on these links:  cellulose and foam.

Ultimately, I chose to go with foam insulation due to how well it expands and seals all the small cracks and crevices in your home.  While cellulose is a very dense material that has great sealing capabilities, I thought that foam would provide slightly better results.

Choosing foam came at a price.  It was approximately 2 X more expensive than fiberglass and roughly 25% more expensive than cellulose.  I was able to reduce the cost a bit by using a thin layer of foam in the attic to seal the cracks, and then add cellulose on top.

The results have been tremendous.  The energy bill in my all-electric house have averaged $150 (3,200 sq. ft.) per month since we moved in.

Whether you choose to go with cellulose insulation or foam as I did, you’ll get good results.

Photo credit:  Elizabeth Buie