Blown-In Cellulose Insulation | Portland, ME
Portland's housing stock is older and more varied than most Maine cities. West End Victorians with balloon framing have completely empty wall cavities. Deering Center bungalows and Woodfords Corner Capes have minimal attic insulation that's degraded over decades. Back Cove colonials lose heat through poorly insulated rim joists. We use dense-pack cellulose to fill wall cavities without disturbing historic plaster, and loose-fill cellulose to bring attics up to R-50.
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Balloon-frame construction means wall cavities run from the basement to the attic with no blocking and zero insulation. Heating these homes without insulating the walls means the heat pump or boiler runs constantly. Dense-pack cellulose fills these cavities through small exterior holes (or small interior holes we patch), adding R-13 to R-15 without touching historic plaster.
1920s-1950s Cape Cods and bungalows in Deering Center and Woodfords Corner typically have original batts that have settled and degraded to well below their rated value. Attic insulation is often R-11 or less. We remove degraded attic insulation, air seal the attic floor, and blow in loose-fill cellulose to bring these homes to R-50.
Colonials and ranches in the Back Cove and Rosemont areas often have rim joists that are either uninsulated or insulated with old fiberglass that has settled away from the wood. Rim joist insulation and air sealing is one of the highest-return improvements in these homes: one day of work that significantly reduces drafts and heating costs.
We use blown-in cellulose for all insulation work in Portland. For attics, we use loose-fill cellulose that fills around every penetration, wire, and joist with no gaps. For walls, we use dense-pack cellulose blown at high pressure through small holes in the exterior sheathing or the wall cavity itself. The high density (3.5 lbs per cubic foot) means it stays in place permanently and also provides a significant air barrier.
Cellulose is made from recycled paper treated for fire resistance. It has no off-gassing concerns, handles moisture vapor better than fiberglass batts in cold-climate applications, and is the material of choice for BPI-certified energy professionals in Maine. We do not use spray foam as a primary insulation material.
We always air seal before insulating. If you insulate without sealing, warm moist air moves through the leaks and deposits moisture inside the insulation, reducing performance and causing long-term problems. Doing both together also qualifies for the combined Efficiency Maine rebate.
"The crew was meticulous. They sealed every penetration before blowing in the insulation, explained exactly what they were doing, and left the attic cleaner than they found it. Our heating bill dropped noticeably the very first month."
"Horizon Homes is excellent. They have supported us for multiple projects across insulation and carpentry and I can't recommend them enough. Cody is extremely thoughtful and supported us for hours on the phone answering questions."
"No more cold floors, no more drafts. The difference after insulation and air sealing was immediate and dramatic. Horizon handled the Efficiency Maine rebate, I didn't have to do a thing."
Insulation works best when combined with air sealing. Consider these services together:
