Cellular Glass Insulation - What You Need to Know
Cellular Glass Insulation - What You Need to Know
By Simon Harris
Cellular glass insulation is generated from a mixture of crushed glass shards and a cellulating agent fed into a special type of mold and heated to an astonishing 900 degrees F. The result of this process is a very sturdy/rigid insulation material. This is one of the oldest forms of home insulation given birth in 1943 when it was used to insulate the roof of a home.
This type of insulation is very friendly to the environment, ages very well, and has many different insulation protections. The cellulating agent mixed with the glass brings out the benefits of both materials. The longevity of glass and the honeycomb bonding of the agent form a perfect marriage. Older homes use this type of insulation due to its affordability and strength not to mention its superb insulation qualities.
Cellular glass insulation has all the major benefits of insulation that people shop for such as being water proof, fire proof, and it's ability to protect against most chemicals (not powerful ones however). It is easy to mold or shape to your particular needs and is often sold in blocks or flat slabs. Because it's made mostly of glass this material is highly rated in protecting against fires, and the material virtually doesn't age at all- it will probably outlive your home!
Some of the some of the drawbacks of this type of insulation are for example compared to blow in insulation or foam insulation, is that it is much more rigid. Unlike blow in insulation, this type of material cannot fill in cracks or get into some of the harder to reach areas. It also cannot expand to fit into the spaces between walls and can rub against protective coatings of some fixtures holding the foundation together.
Some homes today are utilizing a mixture of insulation types to get the job done. For example some home owners want the rigidity of the cellular glass insulation in certain areas of the home but will use the foam insulation to get into the various areas such as cracks and hard to reach places. They will also use the foam insulation to mesh the rigid forms into certain spots. Although not too common, some homes are double insulated, using both cellular glass insulation and foam insulation for more protection.
Some new concepts in insulation have upgraded many of the drawbacks of the traditional insulation, but many believe that cellular glass insulation is not going anywhere and will be used for years to come.
Simon Harris writes about insulation on http://www.insulationanswers.com.
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