80-85% Recycled
No other insulation comes close. Fiberglass is maybe 20-30% recycled. Spray foam? Zero. Cellulose is literally keeping tons of paper out of landfills. One average attic uses about 2,000 lbs of recycled newspaper.
Eco-Friendly Insulation
Cellulose Insulation in Glendale
Want insulation that's good for the planet? Cellulose is basically recycled newspaper that we blow into your attic. It seals air gaps better than fiberglass, costs about the same, and you're keeping paper out of landfills. Win-win.
Understanding Cellulose
What is Cellulose Insulation?
Recycled newspaper turned into attic insulation. Here's how it works.
It's Shredded Newspaper
That's really what it is. About 80-85% recycled paper - mostly old newspapers - ground up into fluffy fibers. Instead of going to a landfill, it ends up keeping your house comfortable. Pretty clever, right?
We blow it into your attic with a big hose. It fills every nook and cranny - around wires, pipes, weird framing angles - all of it. Fiberglass batts can't do that. They leave gaps. Cellulose doesn't.
Yes, It's Fire-Safe
Everyone asks this. "Isn't newspaper flammable?" Not after it's treated. The stuff we install has borate compounds mixed in. When exposed to flame, it chars instead of burning. Actually slows fire spread better than untreated fiberglass.
The borates do triple duty - they're fire retardant, bugs hate them, and mold can't grow. Safe for kids and pets too. Meets California's Class I fire rating, which is the strictest in the country.
Sustainability
Why It's the Green Choice
If you care about your environmental footprint, cellulose makes sense.
Takes Way Less Energy to Make
Making fiberglass requires melting sand at 2,500 degrees. Making cellulose? Basically just shredding paper. Uses about 1/10th the energy. Less factory emissions means less pollution before it even gets to your house.
Full Circle
Tree becomes paper. Paper becomes insulation. Insulation lasts 20-30 years. When it's done, it can be composted or recycled again. Nothing goes to waste.
Keeps Saving Energy
Here's the long game: better insulation means your AC runs less. Less AC means less electricity from the grid. That adds up over 20+ years. One Glendale customer cut their summer bills from $380 to $240.
Comparison
Cellulose vs. Fiberglass: What's the Difference?
Both work. But they're not the same.
Cellulose Seals Air Better
This is the big one. When we blow cellulose in, it packs into every gap and crack. Air can't move through it. Fiberglass batts? Air goes right through them and around the edges.
Tests show cellulose reduces air leakage by about 30% more than fiberglass. That means less drafts, more even temperatures, and your AC doesn't run as hard. In Glendale summers, that matters.
Yeah, It Settles
We'll be straight with you - cellulose does settle. Maybe 10-20% over the first couple years. That's why we install extra. We account for it so your R-value stays where it should be.
Fiberglass doesn't settle the same way, but it sags and develops gaps. Especially in older homes with lots of vibration from traffic. Neither is perfect, but we know how to make both last.
The Green Factor
If this matters to you: cellulose is 80-85% recycled. Fiberglass is 20-30%. Cellulose takes 1/10th the energy to manufacture. Not even close.
What About Price?
Pretty much the same. Cellulose is sometimes a bit cheaper - maybe $0.60-$1.00 per square foot versus $0.50-$1.00 for fiberglass. With the better air sealing, cellulose usually saves more on your bills long-term. We'll show you the numbers for your specific attic.
Best Uses
When Cellulose Makes the Most Sense
It's not right for every situation. Here's where it really shines.
Open Attic Floors
This is cellulose's sweet spot. Big open attic, easy access? We can blow it in fast. It flows around HVAC units, wiring, ductwork - everything gets covered evenly.
- Most jobs done in one day
- Gets around obstacles without cutting
- Even coverage, no thin spots
- Best price-per-square-foot for big attics
Topping Off Old Insulation
Got existing fiberglass that's thin or has gaps? We can blow cellulose right on top of it. No removal, no mess. The cellulose fills in all the spots where the old batts don't reach.
- Don't have to rip out what's there
- Fills gaps the old batts missed
- Costs less than starting from scratch
- You'll feel the difference right away
Older Glendale Homes
Got a 1920s Craftsman or a 1960s ranch? These houses have weird framing, old wiring, and irregular spaces. Batts are a nightmare to fit. Cellulose just flows in and fills everything.
- Doesn't care if your framing is wonky
- Works around knob-and-tube if you've got it
- Dense-pack option for walls too
- Finally makes that 1950s house comfortable
If You Care About the Environment
Going for LEED certification? Just want to do the right thing? Cellulose is the greenest option that actually works well. Most of our eco-conscious customers end up here.
- Helps with green building certifications
- Highest recycled content you can get
- Manufacturing is low-impact
- Put your money where your values are
How We Do It
Why Installation Matters with Cellulose
Cellulose is great when it's done right. Here's what "right" looks like.
1
We Install It Dense Enough
Remember the settling thing? We install at 3.5 lbs per cubic foot so when it settles, you still have R-38. Some contractors go light to save material. Don't hire those guys.
2
Air Seal First
Before any insulation goes in, we seal the gaps around pipes, wires, and can lights. This is the step that actually saves you money. Skip it and you're wasting your time.
3
Even Coverage Everywhere
We use depth markers throughout your attic and check them as we go. No thin spots in the corners, no piles in the middle. Level and even.
4
Lifetime Warranty
We've been doing this long enough to stand behind our work. If something's wrong with the install, we'll fix it. Period.
Cellulose Questions
Questions We Get About Cellulose
The stuff people actually want to know.
Wait, newspaper insulation? Isn't that a fire hazard?
Nope. It's treated with borate compounds that make it fire-resistant. When flame hits it, it chars instead of burning. Actually performs better than fiberglass in fire tests - fiberglass melts and creates gaps, cellulose just chars in place. Has a Class 1 fire rating. We wouldn't install it if it wasn't safe.
How much does it settle? Should I be worried?
It settles about 15-20% in the first year, then stays put. That's why we install 20% more than you need. So after settling, you've still got your R-38 or whatever we quoted. Once it's settled, it's stable for decades. We've seen 30-year-old cellulose that still tests at the original R-value.
What if my roof leaks?
Cellulose does absorb water - that's the tradeoff. Small leak? The borates resist mold, so if you catch it quick and dry it out, you're fine. Big leak? Yeah, you'll need to replace that section. We check your roof before we install and won't put cellulose under a roof that's about to fail. Glendale's dry climate helps - roof leaks aren't as common here.
Why don't more contractors install cellulose?
Equipment. You need a $15,000 blowing machine and you need to know how to use it. Fiberglass batts? Anyone with a truck and a knife can install those. Badly, usually, but they can install them. We've got the equipment and we've done hundreds of cellulose jobs. Some contractors just don't want to invest in learning it.
Is it really better at air sealing than fiberglass?
Way better. Not even close. Cellulose packs in tight and fills every gap. Air can't move through it. Fiberglass batts? Air goes right through them and around the edges. Dense-pack cellulose cuts air leakage by 40% compared to the same R-value in fiberglass. That's where the real energy savings come from - not just the R-value, but stopping air movement.
Want to See If Cellulose Is Right for Your Attic?
We'll take a look, give you real numbers, and tell you honestly whether cellulose makes sense for your situation. Sometimes it does, sometimes fiberglass or spray foam is the better call. We'll show you the options and let you decide.
Get Your Free Estimate