Attic Insulation Blown In Cellulose Vs Fiberglass

Before choosing blown vs.

Attic insulation blown in cellulose vs fiberglass.

Fiberglass insulation contains billions of tiny glass fibers which contain trapped bubbles of air. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. With that said most homeowners agree that blown cellulose is slightly more efficient due to the face that it blocks more air than fiberglass.

Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions. Assuming your current attic insulation is made from fiberglass and has a value of r 13 you d have to add roughly 10 inches of additional fiberglass to hit r 38.

Blown fiberglass on the other hand is made up of very fine strands of glass and these tiny fibers are a carcinogen that can easily be inhaled into your lungs. The higher the r value the more efficient it is. You can find high r value insulation produced in both fiberglass and blown cellulose. Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass.

Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic. You can get to the same place with either material. Cellulose insulation includes cellulose cells that have natural insulating power. Fiberglass insulation is the easiest insulation product on the market to install and if installed correctly the most effective product on the market for home attic insulation.

The three most common types of blown in insulation are loose fill fiberglass cellulose and rock wool each with its own pros and cons. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Blown in insulation requires a professional. When using cellulose blown in dry insulation it requires a machine to achieve its purpose and a training session from wherever you rent the blower from. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.

There are three types of blown in insulation. The paper is broken down into cellular fibers that provide insulation.