People often ask when we would recommend blow-in insulation instead of batts. Insulation batts and blow-in products both provide a thermal blanket; however, we recommend blow-in for several applications.
What is Blow-In Insulation?
Blow-in insulation is a type of insulation that’s installed using specialist equipment, which blows insulating material directly into your wall or roof cavities. This method effectively fills tight spaces, ensuring thorough coverage and a complete thermal barrier.
Benefits of Blow-In Insulation
Installing roof and ceiling insulation can save up to 45% on heating and cooling energy. See YourHome for more information.
Jet Stream® MAX is a high-performance, non-combustible Glasswool designed to be blown into floors, skillion roofs and ceilings. The system creates an even, comprehensive layer, filling areas around pipes, electrical wires and fixtures effectively.
Jet Stream blow-in helps evenly cover existing loose fill in your ceiling. Loose fill, such as cellulose, typically “grabs the beams” as it deteriorates, leaving deposits and little insulation between beams. Applying batts over existing loose fill may follow these contours and create gaps, reducing efficiency. Blow-in insulation solves this issue by providing an even, gap-free thermal blanket.
Advantages of Blow-In Insulation
- Ideal for Tight Spaces: Recommended for low-pitch tin roofs and roofs with extensive ducting.
- Thermal Bridging: Covers ceiling beams effectively, minimising heat transfer at around 15% additional cost compared to single-layer batts. Achieving similar coverage with batts requires “cross-thatching,” potentially doubling material usage.
- Effective Retrofit: Suitable for insulating existing homes, with minimal disruption, and easy installation through external brick, brick veneer, double brick, weatherboard, or internally through plasterboard.
- Acoustic Benefits: Provides improved soundproofing between rooms when used in internal wall cavities.
We recommend installing Knauf Supafil® CarbonPlus, an unbonded, non-combustible glasswool product requiring no mixing on-site.
When to Choose Insulation Batts
We typically recommend batt application when significant roof work, such as rewiring, is planned, or if you prefer a solid mass of insulation rather than loose fill.
Ensure Quality and Compliance
Installing insulation in new dwellings or adding insulation to an existing home significantly improves comfort and energy performance, but correct installation is vital. Always ensure insulation adheres to Australian standards and regulations, as well as recommended R-values for your climate zone.