Attic Insulation Blown In Cellulose Vs Fiberglass

According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions.

Attic insulation blown in cellulose vs fiberglass.

Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. By nature the cells inside the cellulose insulation have their own insulating power. 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. Typically attics with a pitch of 3 12 or greater will provide enough room for an installer to crawl through the trusses.

You can get to the same place with either material. Which means cellulose insulation can be compressed into a space and offer additional r value. Often fiberglass batts are used in areas with limited access. Blown in cellulose and fiberglass are excellent products for new construction.

Blown in insulation sometimes referred to as loose fill insulation is insulation literally blown in with a blowing machine. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30to 0 40a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. The material can be either fiberglass or cellulose and consists of fiber foam or other materials in small particles and can even feel like down. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

In contrast to fiberglass insulation cellulose insulation does not trap air in between it s fibers to control heat. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs. There are three types of blown in insulation. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.

When comparing blown in insulation both fiberglass and cellulose are nearly identical in price both costing around 0 70to 0 80per square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. Click here now to get free fast bids from local insulation contractors. Blown in fiberglass creates a seamless blanket in your attic.

At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. The three most common types of blown in insulation are loose fill fiberglass cellulose and rock wool each with its own pros and cons. You might spend many hours kneeling in your attic to achieve this same result with fiberglass batts. Blown in insulation may be used in attics with ample room for an installer.