Insulation FAQs

Batt insulation could be made of fiberglass, cotton, or rockwool. Most commonly, batt insulation is fiberglass, comprised of thin glass and plastic fibers.

Batt insulation is installed in cavities, such as wall, floor, or ceiling cavities. The insulation needs to be touching all the surfaces of the cavity and fit snugly inside.

Batt insulation price will depend on the material. The most common type of batt insulation, fiberglass, usually costs between $1.00 and $3.00 per square foot.

There are three common types of batt insulation:

• Fiberglass batts
• Cotton batts
• Rockwool batts

R-value, or resistance value, is a measurement of how well a material resists conductive heat transfer.

Fiberglass batt insulation can have an R-value between R-11 and R-49. The R-value depends on the individual batt.

Fiberglass batt insulation is best used in interior walls and in between floors. Batt insulation can also be used in exterior walls where moisture and performance are less of a concern.

Other products, like rockwool batts, have a greater variety of applications.

Blown-in is an application of loose fill insulation, most commonly in attics. The same loose fill insulation could be applied differently, such as through the dense pack method.

The two most common types of blown-in insulation are blown-in fiberglass and blown-in cellulose.

Fiberglass is made of tiny glass and plastic fibers, while cellulose is made of ground up paper material.

Find more details on insulation material.

Blown-in insulation is installed with a blowing machine. You can rent a blown-in machine at a home improvement store, but professional insulation rigs are much more efficient.

The loose fill insulation passes through the blower, installing an even layer of insulation on the attic floor.

Generally, both blown-in cellulose and blown-in fiberglass stay within the same range of pricing. We charge between $1.50 and $4.00 per square foot for blown-in insulation.

There are two common types of blown-in insulation:

• Blown-in fiberglass
• Blown-in cellulose

R-value, or resistance value, is a measurement of how well a material resists conductive heat transfer.

Blown-in R-value varies by the depth of insulation. Blown-in Nu-Wool cellulose has an R-value of R-3.8 per inch.

Spray foam insulation is a polyurethane foam that adheres to surfaces. The adhesion helps create an airtight seal, while the foam material slows the thermal transfer of heat. Read our article for more in-depth information about spray foam basics.

Spray foam is created from two components mixed in a 1:1 ratio. These components are commonly referred to as the A-Side and the B-Side. The scientific names for the components are isocyanate and polyol blend. Their chemical reaction creates a foam that expands and sticks in place.

Spray foam insulation is applied using a spray gun and spray hose. This gear is housed in a spray foam rig, which has other important equipment. The drums of A-Side and B-Side chemicals are inside, along with equipment to monitor temperature, pressure, and ratio. After leaving the spray gun, the chemicals are atomized, allowing them to mix efficiently and effectively.

Spray foam cost is calculated by board feet rather than square feet, since different projects require different depths of spray foam. Spray foam insulation tends to be more expensive than more budget-friendly insulations like batt and blown-in.

Learn to estimate the cost of spray foam from our article.

Open cell and closed cell are two different types of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation.

Open cell is a low-density foam with an open cell structure. Closed cell is a higher-density foam with a closed cell structure. The cell structures of these foam types determine their features and ideal applications.

R-value, or resistance value, is a measurement of how well a material resists conductive heat transfer.

The higher the R-value, the better a material can insulate.

R-value does not measure every aspect of insulation performance, but is one aspect to consider when choosing an insulation product.

Unlike fiberglass insulation, spray foam is an air barrier material that reduces indoor air pollution and limits chemical exposure. Spray foam, as a component in an air barrier assembly, contributes to creating an improved indoor environment that is more equipped to mimic hypoallergenic conditions. Learn more about the differences between fiberglass and spray foam.

Spray foam is best to install in warm weather. However, spray foam can still be installed in the cold by experienced contractors. Spray foam work can safely be completed during most winter days in southern Pennsylvania.

Spray foam insulation is created from the chemical reaction of two chemical components, which pose health risks in their raw forms. After correct installation, spray foam insulation is a safe and inert product. Learn more about the safety of spray foam insulation. 

Spray foam insulation cannot be recycled, but it does make buildings much more energy efficient.

Spray foam insulation insulates well according to R-value, and also helps to create an airtight seal. Homeowners are sometimes concerned that spray foam's airtight seal will prevent their home from ventilating properly.

Homes can have improper ventilation. However, spray foam's airtight seal is the not the culprit of improper ventilation. An airtight seal prevents uncontrolled air infiltration, but does not hinder natural or mechanical ventilation.

An air-sealed home with ventilation issues needs to have the HVAC system evaluated to best support the homeowner. Depending on the climate zone, a house insulated with spray foam may need an ERV or HRV added to the HVAC system.

During the manufacturing process, spray foam insulation does off-gas toxic fumes. The installers wear respirators to protect their lungs, while residents and pets are asked to vacate.

After spray foam has cured, off-gassing fumes dissipate. Off-gassing is a normal byproduct of the chemical reaction to create spray foam, but should not continue after the foam is manufactured.

Learn about the relationship between spray foam insulation and off-gassing in more detail.

Spray foam is not a food source. As a seamless air barrier, it helps eliminate the risk of dangerous mold growth and reduces the infiltration of dust, pollen, insects, and pests.

Traditional loose-fill insulation such as fiberglass or cellulose can encourage pests to live and breed in homes. No insulation is pest-proof, but spray foam can be used to support a pest defense strategy.

Spray foam is not a serious fire risk when building code requirements, IBC and IRC, specific to foamed plastics are followed. Learn more about spray foam insulation and fire safety.

Spray foam insulation is a selling feature for a home. Like other selling features, spray foam may or may not have an impact on how many people are interested in purchasing your home. Spray foam, like other insulation products, will not influence your resale value.

Spray foam insulation cannot be left exposed without some kind of protective covering. Building codes dictate that spray foam needs a thermal barrier between itself and occupiable living space. How these thermal barriers are achieved varies by building code.

South Central Services is not able to provide estimates over the phone. Creating an accurate quote requires detailed project information. Ideally, our team would also complete a site visit with you.

You are welcome to call our team to ask questions about pricing, scheduling, and products. However, that phone call will be the starting point of creating a quote. An accurate estimate cannot be generated during that call.

Set yourself up for success by reviewing the questions we ask during our first phone call.

The first step to getting your free quote is to request your quote on our website. But we won't create a quote based on just the information you're able to provide at that point.

In order to generate the most accurate quote, we need to first complete a site visit. After your site visit, we will complete and send your free quote within 3 to 5 business days.

We'll schedule your site visit during our first phone call, which happens the first business day after you request your quote. We can schedule the site visit almost immediately, but when the site visit is scheduled will vary based on your availability and our current schedule.

The average turnaround time from the scheduling phone call to the actual site visit varies by project urgency, but it generally occurs within 5 business days.

The more notice you're able to provide for your project, the better. However, we will do our best to work with your schedule. If your insulation work needs completed in the next few weeks, be prepared to fast-track this process by responding to phone calls and emails as timely as possible.

The duration of your insulation project will depend on a variety of factors, such as the size of the space, prep work, and type of insulation project. After speaking with our team and completing your site visit, you'll know how long your job is projected to take.

South Central Services installs insulation in areas of southern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

See our service area map to better determine if your project is located in our service area.

Our team does service the entirety of 8 counties. If you live in these counties, you do not need to check the map to ensure you live within our service area.

• Adams County, PA
• Cumberland County, PA
• Franklin County, PA
• Fulton County, PA
• Frederick County, MD
• Washington County, MD
• Berkeley County, WV
• Jefferson County, WV

Our team also services parts of 9 other counties. See if your town is listed for:

• Bedford County, PA
• Dauphin County, PA
• Huntingdon County, PA
• Perry County, PA
• York County, PA
• Allegheny County, MD
• Morgan County, WV
• Frederick County, VA
• Loudoun County, VA