Types of Insulation

Types of Insulation

The right insulation doesn’t just keep you comfortable; it can also help lower energy bills and help protect your home from the elements for years to come.

Not All Insulation Performs the Same—Especially in a Maine Winter

Insulation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different insulation materials have different strengths and uses. That’s why Evergreen is the home insulation company near you that takes a careful, building science-based approach, like choosing the right insulation for the job that will help you get the most out of every upgrade.

One type of insulation we don’t use is fiberglass – it underperforms in cold climates, settles over time, and is a favorite nesting site for critters. Instead, we use materials that are proven to work in Southern and Coastal Maine homes.

Maine house with patchy snow on the roof and icicles on the side of the roof
Cellulose insulation in gloved hands

The Materials We Use – and Why

Cellulose Insulation

Often used in: Attic floors (loose blown); roof slopes, floor cavities, and wall cavities (dense packed)

We use Beno-Therm cellulose, made from recycled newspaper and treated to resist fire, pests, and mold. It’s one of the most cost-effective and high-performance insulations available, and it’s a go-to for many Maine homes.

  • Excellent thermal and sound insulation
  • Fire- and mold-resistant
  • Non-toxic and eco-friendly
  • Can be blown in as loose-fill or dense-pack

Made in Maine Wood Fiber Insulation

Due to popular request, customers can now request TimberFill insulation from Timber HP, a Madison, Maine-based company. TimberFill works similarly to cellulose and is primarily blown in loose in attics, or in some cases dense packed in roof slopes and walls. 

Mineral Wool (Rock Wool) Insulation

Often used in: Chimneys, masonry walls, or areas exposed to moisture or heat

Mineral wool looks like fiberglass, but don’t be fooled—it’s denser, tougher, and more resistant to moisture, pests, and fire, making it a great choice for basements and utility areas.

  • Strong fire and moisture resistance
  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Excellent sound dampening

Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Often used in: Basement walls, rim joists, crawlspaces, and hard-to-seal areas

Closed-cell spray foam expands on contact, filling cracks, gaps, and cavities before hardening into a solid, airtight layer. It acts as both insulation and an air and moisture barrier. We use spray foam for very specific jobs to deliver lasting performance in tough conditions.

Because it’s a chemical product, spray foam needs to be installed with safety and care, and your family will need to vacate the home during installation and curing.

  • High R-value and rigid structure
  • Acts as an air, moisture, and vapor barrier
  • Ideal for old foundations or stone walls

Foil-Faced Rigid Foam Board

Best for: Poured concrete basement walls or crawlspaces

Rigid foam boards offer a clean, finished look. As an experienced local basement insulation company, we use rigid foam board because it delivers high insulation value, moisture protection, and fire resistance.

  • Long-lasting performance
  • Air and moisture resistant
  • Fire-rated white foil facing for a clean aesthetic

Helping You Choose the Right Material—And Installing It the Right Way

The material is just one piece of the puzzle. How it’s installed is what makes it perform.

Since 2006, Evergreen has helped more than 4,500 homeowners choose the right basement, wall, and attic insulation in Portland, Rockland, and the rest of Southern and Coastal Maine. We’re your local insulation guide, walking you through your options, explaining the tradeoffs, and recommending the best fit for your home, budget, and long-term comfort.

Evergreen team member installing blown insulation in attic
Evergreen Home Performance Team Installing Attic Insulation

Insulation Incentives Available Now

No matter the insulation material, insulation incentives are available that can help save you thousands when you improve your home. Evergreen is the leading Efficiency Maine program contractor for insulation and air sealing upgrades and can help you qualify for:

  • Efficiency Maine rebates up to $8,000
  • Low-interest financing starting at $50/month

Evergreen will help you find the right insulation for your Maine home – and install it the right way. Call 207-594-2244 or contact us online to schedule your free consult.

The right insulation makes all the difference. We’ll help you choose what your home really needs.

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULT TODAY

I waited a year to write this review. Evergreen finished our job late last winter. Terrific results!!! we've gone from 12-day propane deliveries to 30+ day propane deliveries. The house is noticeably warmer. The Evergreen crew was/is professional, prompt, thorough, scientific, gracious and immaculate with respect to keeping our house clean. Money well spent.

John E.

Boothbay

We had Evergreen come out to our tiny old (100+ year old) house to see what they would recommend for decreasing our carbon footprint, saving money, and increasing our comfort in the cold season. Richard and Bryan were great to work with, patiently answering our many questions and walking us through multiple options. We could only afford to tackle a few areas this year; we ended up replacing some windows and having them weatherize the entire house.

Alan M.

Falmouth

Evergreen did an amazing job insulating our historic home. Their professional staff worked hard to ensure the tough areas in the attic were covered, and clearly communicated their progress. We are seeing the results with our discounted heating bills. Thank you, Evergreen!

Melissa Knoll

Portland

Evergreen came back this year to finish insulating our house. We have been remodeling and renovating an 1850s cape for several years. Their employees are very professional and pleasant to deal with. Over several years Brian Robinson has been able to schedule us in for several small areas that needed addressing and finally turning a room we used to close off in the winter into a comfortable usable space. We primarily heat with wood and since Evergreens great work our furnace has only come on ONCE this winter. Fantastic. Really satisfied customer in Thomaston.

Chris F.

Thomaston

Evergreen did everything they said they would and more. I actually don't mind going into the basement now since they sealed it. The air quality in the house is noticeably better and it's warmer in the winter. We can even store clothing down there where before, whatever was in there would mildew. Even the spider population declined! I used to vacuum so many of them from the corners of the ceilings in the house. Not any more!

Loriel Van Dusen

Several years ago Brian Robinson evaluated the crawl space at my summer home on Islesboro where I knew moisture was becoming a problem. I had done quite a bit of work in the space many years prior with mixed results. When Brian offered some suggestions, they were ideas that incorporated work previously done, and would be a relatively low cost effort to improve the situation. He offered this advice over several phone conversations of some length, informally, and at no charge.

Cliff R.

Islesboro

Last week, my oil company asked if we were using some other kind of fuel because our usage was so much less than they had expected We are very happy with the results; the house is much more comfortable

Steve T.

St. George

Evergreen has just completed Phase 2 of 2 at my home. They are professional, hard-working and courteous. They communicate well..no surprises. They've gone above and beyond to make my home comfortable and were very respectful of my home.I recommend them unequivocally!!!Many thanks to Brian, Brian, Rick, Eddie, Dawson and the rest of the Evergreen crew!!

David Henry Feldman

First we have Evergreen do a BIG project worth about $20K (windows, basement, insulate & rebuild an entire wall, a door, attics, and air sealing). They were so great we had them come back later when we decided we did want to do our other door. They are professional and do great work. They take care of your home and are trustworthy, and on top of all that friendly! I highly recommend you call them!

Garreth C Debiegun

The Evergreen crew from initial inception to installation were professional, on time, and left our place spotless. The end result was exceptional.

John Brown

We are so pleased with the work the team from Evergreen Home Performance did in our home. The project included encapsulation of our basement with a reinforced vapor barrier, installation of a sump pump, spray foam insulation on the walls and insulation of the heating duct work. Everyone at Evergreen was friendly and professional. The project was completed on time and in budget. Our home is much cozier and warmer since the project was completed.

Linda Metzger

The crew members from Evergreen Home Performance each made sure to greet us every day, while maintaining their distance in this time of the pandemic. Their work took a total of nine days, spread over three weeks. Even though they were working in multiple rooms of our house, as well as the basement and attic, they were unobtrusive and always cleaned up after themselves every day. The on-sight manager kept us informed of their daily schedule so we'd know which parts of the house they'd be working on.

Bob & Sue

Whitefield

Highly recommended. Our heating usage is now less than half what it was before we had our roof insulated. Evergreen was knowledgeable, friendly, and left no trace they were ever in our house. Not only is our heating bill much lower now, but our home is generally more comfortable year-round with less temperature fluctuations. Money well spent.

RC Lations

I used to spend winters in the bathtub because my house was so cold. This was my first winter roaming around my whole house comfortably. This even led me to decorate a little. My heating oil usage has been reduced by over a quarter: I rarely have to boost the thermostat because the temp stays at a constant. The Efficiency Maine rebates, together with the energy savings, make it affordable for me to pay for the loan I took out to finance the project. I do not worry about my pipes freezing.

Claire Helene Bevan

Camden

I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quality of service that I received from the Evergreen team. I met Richard to discuss options for insulation. I knew immediately that I wanted to do business with them because he did not try to over-sell extra services that I did not need. Dave was the project manager. He was not only kind, but very respectful of my home. I would highly recommend this company.

Darlyann M

Bath

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