Attic Insulation Blown In Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

Properly installed they will both remain in place for the life of the home.

Attic insulation blown in fiberglass vs cellulose.

There are three types of blown in 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. 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.

Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Blown in insulation sometimes referred to as loose fill insulation is insulation literally blown in with a blowing machine.

Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. Batts or loose fill. There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose.

This is called wind washing. Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to fiberglass. Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation. 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.

Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker. Sometimes loose fill insulation is referred to as blown in insulation because an installer literally blows it into your home with a special machine. Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9. 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.

Blown in cellulose homeowner benefits.