Blown Attic Insulation Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

Higher r value per inch.

Blown attic insulation fiberglass vs cellulose.

Sometimes loose fill insulation is referred to as blown in insulation because an installer literally blows it into your home with a special machine. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. So it seems to me the real debate. Batts or loose fill. Very common very problematic.

Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. 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. Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation. There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose.

Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts. Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to fiberglass. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation.

Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. 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. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker.

The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. Blown in cellulose homeowner benefits. Properly installed they will both remain in place for the life of the home. Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch.

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. Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. This is called wind washing.