by robhelms » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:45 pm
Jason, i appreciate your comments, but still there are stats on this listed at that site, as well as research articles on the subjects. First, just because you say they are incomplete does not prove your point, since someone else could say the same about Cellulose. Most of the information from the cellulose industry comes from, ..... you guessed it the cellulose industry, so sure all of the industry is replete with propaganda. I would ask, why do they get a free pass on this, where the fiberglass industry does not? A couple times in your statements you said " My guess is" That is the problem with this type of discussion too much runs on guesswork and conjecture, or at the least personal viewpoint, and what product we are marketing our business for. Secondly, fiberglass has been densed packed for decades, ever heard of the BIBs system? We have a branch office in Washington State, and it uses this type of process with both fiberglass and cellulose, and the R-Values for both are well documented from studies done by third party testing facilities.
A good example of the challenges that the cellulose industry faces is in the area of wet or wall spray application. The manufactures claim this is the best application of their product. The rate it higher than dense pack. But it has many weaknesses. 1. if you don't have just the right water level, humidity, and pressure it will not stick and can fall out. During the day change temperature and humidity level can change the application dramatically. Moisture can be retained far longer than the maker admits. Chemicals can cause some corrosion, even more than they admit to. Anything over 2x6 walls and the problem begins to get worse. Add to that the fact that in an attic blow it is suggested that water be added to stabilize the material so as to limit settling after the fact. Many out there do not properly use the water, so settling does occur. This is an issue that cellulose has, but that does not make cellulose a bad product. It means it must be handled properly, and the installer must have the proper equipment to do it right.
As far as the idea that fiberglass will not resist airflow, keep in mind that many of these test devices that permiate the industry are marketing ploys, and are designed to exploit the weakness of the enemy, and magnify the hometeam. To take a air blowing device and blow air up in a wall thru a product is not a real world test. First airflow thru a wall is not under pressure it is usually a drafted air situation and has no real pressure behind it, so the test is not applicable to actual in home situations.
Lastly I am in no way an advocate for the fiberglass industry. In our branch, where we regualrly employe 10 to 12 installers even in these times we use both fiberglass and cellulose. In fact we are currently moving a large quantity of cellulose each month. In a dense pack retrofit wall i would suggest Cellulose for a few simple reasons, the No. 1 being i feel it is a bit easier to install, and gives a very good result.
Then main reason i posted in the first place is that i wanted to go on record as saying that it is not a good idea to make blanket statements that one type of material is no good when it has been proven to work over a long period time. I believe there is two sides to this discussion, and we should be fair to the whole industry, as it has been good to us.