All posts by garykull
ProVia Endure
ProVia Aspect
ProVia ecoLite
ProVia Storm
An introduction to Cellulose Insulation
Would it surprise you to learn that cellulose is the most common building material in the world? It shouldn’t, because wood is cellulose, and you’ll find more wood used in construction than any other material. You might be tempted to think of cellulose insulation as paper, or even ground-up paper, but in fact it’s not. While clean, recycled paper and cardboards form the basis of cellulose insulation, National Fiber processes it back to a fibrous state, bearing no resemblance to the original paper. (The same can’t be said for all makers of cellulose insulation, however.)
A little history
Cellulose insulation has been around a long time. Thomas Jefferson used a form of cellulose to insulate his estate, Monticello – where construction began in 1769! What we think of today as cellulose insulation has been in wide use since the 1920’s, growing dramatically after WWII. The energy crisis of the 1970’s and 1980’s led to even greater use of cellulose – and the reputation of cellulose as an insulation that would settle in your walls. That’s no longer the case, and it hasn’t been for a long time, thanks to dramatic improvements in manufacturing and installation techniques.
What’s changed?
National Fiber’s Cel-Pak is, like most things, a much better product than you could buy in the 1970’s. First, it’s completely fiberized, which allows for interlocking of the cellulose fibers. Then there’s the equipment and techniques used to install it – both radically improved from the ‘good old days’.
Today, Cel-Pak is ‘dense-packed’ in walls at a density of 3.2 – 3.5 lbs of material per cubic foot of space, or more than twice its settled density. This does a couple of things. First, the installation process ensures that cavities are completely filled – no gaps, no voids, no pockets or spaces.
Second, using 3.5 lbs. of material per cubic foot ensures that the material is under slight pressure in the wall cavity. It simply can’t settle, because there is no room for it to settle. (Those displays you see at trade and home shows showing cellulose blowing around in a box? They’re designed to trick you, using far less material than is installed in the field, so don’t be fooled.)
The bottom line
Cellulose has improved in quality and sophistication over time, and it now provides exceptional resistance to fire, moisture, mold, and vermin. What other insulation can claim these benefits and also provide the superior thermal and sound insulation that comes naturally to cellulose?
To learn more about cellulose insulation, check out our Myths & Misconceptions page.
An Introduction to Fiberglass Installation
Getting ready to upgrade or renovate your home?
Learn about projects you can do to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
AttiCat® Expanding Blown-In Insulation System
Adding insulation to your attic is a blast with the AttiCat® Insulation Blowing Machine! It conditions the AttiCat® Expanding Blown-In PINK Fiberglas™ Insulation by breaking it up and fluffing it, adding millions of the tiny air pockets that give the material its insulating power. The insulation is conditioned further throughout the length of the hose, and as it bounces its way up to your attic, more and more air pockets are added, increasing its insulating power even more. And since Fiberglas™ insulation will not settle, it will keep its energy-saving R-value over time.
Quick and Easy:
- Blowing the insulation should take less than 1.5 hours and the whole job can be completed in less than 4 hours based on a 1,000 sq. ft. attic at R-30
- Self-feeding system
- Puts insulation where you want it
- Integrated AUTOCUTTER
No Mess:
- Fiberglas™ insulation releases and expands completely inside machine
- Provides easy clean-up because machine does the work for you
- Low dust system
Safe and Reliable:
- Optimized process for minimal handling
- Fully enclosed system
- Hose-mounted remote control
Find It Now
We recommend AttiCat® Loosefill Expanding Blown-In Insulation System insulating
your entire attic area.
AZEK Decks
AZEK Deck’s Vintage Collection is the next generation of capped cellular PVC decking. With its industry leading technology, the Vintage Collection sets a new standard in aesthetics giving you a more realistic wood appearance than competing alternative decking products. With its rustic texture, rich colors and superior durability, the Vintage Collection is sure to bring anyone’s dream outdoor living space to life.
Refining and redefining what decking means, AZEK Deck Boards have been engineered to withstand the everyday things that happen on a deck. Even spilled wine, fruit punch, and hamburger grease are no match for AZEK Deck’s stain resistance. And, since AZEK Decks are scratch resistant, you won’t have to worry about marks from patio furniture or pets.
With AZEK Deck, you can rest assured your deck will continue to look great for years to come.
- Colors: Mahogany, Cypress, Dark Hickory
- Breakthrough aesthetics with a realistic wood appearance
- Rustic texture found traditionally in reclaimed wood and indoor flooring
- Rich colors with dramatic streaking that truly emulate tropical hardwoods
- Exclusive embossing pattern with fine texture lines
- Slight board-to-board color variation simulating hardwoods
- Enhanced colorfastness
- Superior durability
- Stain, scratch and split resistant
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Impervious to moisture and insects
- Spans a maximum of 16″ on-center
- Grooved profiles, used for hidden fastening, available in 12′, 16′ and 20′ lengths
- Square shouldered profiles available in 16′ and 20 lengths
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Building Code listings ESR-1667 and CCRR-0101
Square Shouldered & Grooved
Actual dimensions: 1″ x 5.5″
Skylights- Velux
VELUX offers a complete system of complimentary products and accessories for any solution from installation right down to the finishing touches. Select from the categories to the left to find the right residential skylight for you.
Enhancing life with our most abundant natural resource — light from above.
Clean, Quiet & Safe
CLEAN: Features Neat® glass coating to keep your skylight cleaner longer, leaving skylights virtually spotless.
QUIET: Reduces unwanted outside noise by up to 25% less than a standard double pane glass, and up to 50% less than a plastic skylight.
SAFE: VELUX recommends, and building codes require, laminated glass for out of reach applications.
Velux- Skylights
VELUX offers a complete system of complimentary products and accessories for any solution from installation right down to the finishing touches. Select from the categories to the left to find the right residential skylight for you.
Enhancing life with our most abundant natural resource — light from above.
Clean, Quiet & Safe
CLEAN: Features Neat® glass coating to keep your skylight cleaner longer, leaving skylights virtually spotless.
QUIET: Reduces unwanted outside noise by up to 25% less than a standard double pane glass, and up to 50% less than a plastic skylight.
SAFE: VELUX recommends, and building codes require, laminated glass for out of reach applications.