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Who Are the Best Manufacturers of Fiberglass Insulation?

fiberglass insulation | home insulation

Who Are the Best Manufacturers of Fiberglass Insulation? Blog Feature
Amanda Ringler

By: Amanda Ringler on December 21st, 2020

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Insulation is an important addition to your home, but choosing the right material for your budget and needs is also important.

If you are considering fiberglass insulation for your home, the next thing to tackle is deciding which manufacturer to use. The best manufacturers of fiberglass insulation include Johns Manville, Guardian, Knauf, and Owens Corning.

RetroFoam of Michigan specializes in injection and spray foam insulations with more than 17 years of experience insulating homes across the lower peninsula and greater Toledo area. While foam is our forte, we have dealt with fiberglass in homes that need updated or new insulation.

We occasionally have customers that are looking for a cheaper insulation option who are curious about the different manufacturers of fiberglass.

As a part of our ongoing efforts to provide homeowners with the best information, we have compiled this list of the best fiberglass insulation manufacturers.

Best Fiberglass Insulation Manufacturers

FiberglassBattWhen you think of fiberglass insulation, you likely think of the big pink rolls or batts, but not all those materials are the same.

Let's take a look at the top manufacturers of fiberglass and analyze the products the companies offer, what people are saying about them, and where you can find their products.

Johns Manville Fiberglass Insulation

Johns Manville is considered to be one of the leading manufacturers of premium quality fiberglass insulation.

The company has been in business for 160 years first starting off creating roofing shingles. In the following decades, Johns Manville company survived the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, and the rise and fall of asbestos.

The company boasts that the lessons learned from the use of asbestos helped to foster their commitment to the health and safety of those who purchase their materials.

JM offers home insulation like fiberglass, foam board sheathing, mineral wool and spray foam. They also offer building insulation, HVAC insulation, mechanical insulation, and industrial insulation. The company also creates and sells products for commercial roofing, as well as other engineered products.

But you came here to learn about their fiberglass insulation.

Johns Manville fiberglass insulation can work in each room of the home with R-Values ranging from R-11 to R-38. Here is a look at the fiberglass insulation products JM offers and their benefits.

  • JM Kraft-Faced batts and rolls are ideal for moisture control in exterior walls. It is available in pre-cut batts to fit standard wall cavities or rolls that can be cut to fit any size cavity.
  • The thermal and acoustical insulation offers R-Values between R-11 to R-38.
  • JM Comfort Therm fiberglass insulation is wrapped in plastic for less itch and dust during the installation process. The poly-encapsulated thermal and acoustical insulation is available with a vapor-retardant plastic facing or without the facing for use in hot, humid climates. It comes in pre-cut batts or rolls.
  • JM unfaced building insulation is made with formaldehyde-free thermosetting binder that provides a better indoor air quality. It is made for effective heat control from the exterior while controlling unwanted noise in the interior walls.
  • Johns Manville Climate Pro blown-in fiberglass insulation is designed to fit into hard to reach cavities and corners. The material’s R-Value ranges between R-11 to R-60.

Now, if you're looking to install the fiberglass yourself, Johns Manville has a page on the company's website that walks you through different areas of the house, as well as different materials.

Customers who have worked with JM fiberglass materials say it is easy to work with and the material was clean.

When you're ready to tackle the installation, you can find a number of the company's products at any home improvement store.

Knauf Fiberglass Insulation

Knauf Insulation is a family-owned manufacturer of fiberglass insulation that was started in 1978.

Fiberglass-in-attic-229x300Knauf Insulation manufactures thermal and acoustical glass mineral wool insulations for residential customers, as well as commercial, industrial, marine, original equipment manufacturers, and metal building applications. Here is a look at their fiberglass insulation materials.

  • Knauf’s EcoBatt insulation doesn’t look like traditional forms of fiberglass insulation due to its natural brown color representing a level of sustainability. EcoBatt insulation combines sand, recycled bottle glass, and ECOSE technology to create the sustainable insulation. The natural color assures no phenol-formaldehyde, acrylics, or artificial colors are used to manufacture the material. The R-Value ranges between R-11 and R-38 in various areas of the home.
  • Jet Stream Ultra blowing wool insulation is an unbonded, virgin fibrous glass blowing insulation designed with optimal thermal properties, as well as coverage and blowing characteristics that help completely fill the cavity. The blown insulation doesn’t settle and is made with recycled content. The R-Value varies between R-11 and R-60 for attics and R-15 to R-39 for walls cavities.
  • EcoFill Wx blowing wool insulation is also unbonded, virgin fibrous glass blowing insulation with a high degree of post-consumer recycled material, as each bag contains the equivalent of 30 recycled bottles. It is designed for weatherizing and retrofitting existing homes. The material doesn’t settle once it is installed in walls. The insulation R-Values range between R-11 and R-60 in the open attic and R-15 to R-39 in wall cavities.
  • The EcoRoll glass mineral wool insulation is made with ECOSE technology and contains a high concentration of sand and at least 60 percent post-consumer recycled glass. The ECOSE technology ensures no phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics, or artificial colors are used to manufacture the material. The material has consistent quality, low dust, and easy-cutting resilient fiber.

Homeowners who have used Knauf fiberglass said that the material didn't make them itch the way other fiberglass products do. Other reviews state the product is easy to work with and is of good quality.

Knauf fiberglass can be purchased from some home improvement stores or from the manufacturer.

Guardian Fiberglass Insulation

Guardian fiberglass insulation was acquired by Knauf Insulation in 2014 but is still available to purchase at any home improvement store.

Guardian offers fiberglass insulation spray, blown-in, and batts. Here is a look at Guardian’s products and benefits.

  • Guardian’s UltraFit Plus is a spray-on fiberglass insulation. Its R-Value varies between R-14 to R-40 depending on the thickness of the material applied.
  • Guardian Fatt Batt has an R-Value of R-49 at 15 inches thick. There are six pieces of batt insulation per bag.
  • Guardian Supercube II is a loose-fill fiberglass insulation that works in attics, walls, and floors. The material’s R-Value ranges between R-11 and R-60 in open attics and R-15 to R69 in closed cavities.
  • Attic Guard Plus is a premium loose-fill fiberglass insulation. The R-Value ranges from R-11 to R-60 for open attics and R-15 to R-69 for closed cavities.

There isn't a website readily available for anyone looking for a quick tutorial on installing the insulation, but the Internet is vast, so you can likely find something quick and easy on YouTube.

Owens Corning Fiberglass Insulation

FiberglassRoll_jpgOwens Corning started developing insulation materials in the 1870s.

From that early start to today, Owens Corning now develops, manufactures, and markets insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. Here is a look at the fiberglass insulation they offer.

  • AttiCat expanding blown-in insulation system releases fiberglass insulation that expands inside the machine. It is a self-feeding system that helps to put the insulation where the homeowner wants it. It is an optimized process for minimal handling of the fiberglass material. The R-Value ranges between R-13 and R-60 in attics of new and existing homes.
  • EcoTouch Pink fiberglass insulation with PureFiber technology delivers comfort to the home while helping the structure stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The material will also help reduce monthly heating and cooling costs and offers exceptional thermal and acoustical performance. The material is certified to include a minimum of 58 percent total recycled content and is formaldehyde free. It comes in batts and rolls with R-Values ranging from R-13 to R-38.

If you're looking to install the fiberglass insulation yourself, Owens Corning has an entire page on the company's website devoted to educating installers.

Homeowners who have installed the material say the insulation is very easy to install and work with. They also said it was very easy to cut to make sure it fit perfectly into the joists and cavities where it is installed.

Owens Corning fiberglass insulation can be purchased from any home improvement store.

Choosing the Best Fiberglass Insulation Brand and Manufacturer for Your Home

Now that you've read a little bit about the top fiberglass insulation manufacturers, the decision on which one to use is now in your hands.

It all comes down to what areas you plan to insulate, ease of installation, and the quality of the material you decide on. You've got the information you need to make an informed decision, so go forth and insulate your home.

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About Amanda Ringler

Amanda previously has worked as a breaking news and crime reporter, TV news producer, and editor in Flint and Detroit. Throughout her career as a journalist, she has won several awards from The Society of Professional Journalists - Detroit Chapter and the Michigan Press Association. As part of the RetroFoam of Michigan family, Amanda uses her experience as a journalist to write content that will help educate homeowners on the benefits of foam insulation. When Amanda isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband and rescued huskies. She also loves knitting, making art, cooking, and hosting dinner and a movie night for friends and family.