Attic Insulation Blown In Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

You can get to the same place with either material.

Attic insulation blown in fiberglass vs cellulose.

More consistent pricing from cellulose manufacturers than fiberglass. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials.

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. 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. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. You can find high r value insulation produced in both fiberglass and blown cellulose.

Or 7 inches of cellulose. 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. With that said most homeowners agree that blown cellulose is slightly more efficient due to the face that it blocks more air than fiberglass.

Installation costs for blown in insulation costs around 2 a square foot where installation costs for batts is around 1 a square foot. The higher the r value the more efficient it is. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. Cellulose insulation like spray foam insulation limits air movement. A study by the university of colorado found that cellulose insulation reduced air leakage by 38.

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. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions. Cellulose resists blowing when installed fiberglass tends to blow around stick to the attic ceiling and drift. Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans.

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.