Attic Cellulose Insulation Vs Fiberglass

Blown in insulation requires a professional.

Attic cellulose insulation vs fiberglass.

If fiberglass batts become compressed losing some of their air pockets then this insulation may be more affected by air flow than cellulose which performs well regardless of density. Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic.

Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass. 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. Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.

Cellulose insulates better than fiberglass especially in very cold weather. Fiberglass insulation blown in attic r2 2 r4 3. Fiberglass batt or roll insulation r3 2. Before choosing blown vs.

Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. This is called wind washing. Batt insulation take time to read this column. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass.

Or 7 inches of cellulose. Cellulose wins last update. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. 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.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these. When used in an attic space however both types of insulation are ineffective at air flow across the attic floor such as a strong gust of wind. This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. 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. Thus creating a more energy efficient home. You can get to the same place with either material.

Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Both cellulose and fiberglass insulation provide about the same level of insulating power or r value per inch with slightly different results based on the installation procedure.