Blown Attic Insulation Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

In contrast to fiberglass insulation cellulose insulation does not trap air in between it s fibers to control heat.

Blown attic insulation fiberglass vs cellulose.

The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. 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. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. 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.

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. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs. You can find high r value insulation produced in both fiberglass and blown cellulose. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards.

Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans. The higher the r value the more efficient it is. When comparing blown in insulation both fiberglass and cellulose are nearly identical in price both costing around 0 70 to 0 80 per square foot for 6 inches of insulation.

Before choosing blown vs. You can get to the same place with either material. More consistent pricing from cellulose manufacturers than fiberglass. Which means cellulose insulation can be compressed into a space and offer additional r value.

Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates. Cellulose produces much less static than fiberglass. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. Cellulose resists blowing when installed fiberglass tends to blow around stick to the attic ceiling and drift.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Or 7 inches of cellulose. Blown in insulation requires a professional. Batt insulation take time to read this column.

By nature the cells inside the cellulose insulation have their own insulating power. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions. 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. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts.