Cellulose Vs Fiberglass Blown In Attic

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.

Cellulose vs fiberglass blown in attic.

As a recycled paper product cellulose is prone to absorb moisture that can cause wood rot and mould. Loose fill blown fiberglass insulation has another slight problem. 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. Thus creating a more energy efficient home.

Fiberglass blown in involves using a machine to pump 2 the loose insulation into the wall cavities. You can get to the same place with either material. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. 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.

This is slightly more difficult but provides better installation. Cellulose produces much less static than fiberglass. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk.

Advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass. This makes it slightly more difficult than fiberglass batts but comparable to blown in cellulose. This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.

Wet blown cellulose is also subject to similar contamination too. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions. Cellulose insulation is always blown in. Once it has settled fiberglass has an r value of 2 1 2 7 per inch while cellulose has an r value of approximately 3 0 per inch.

Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans. It can still be done diy by renting a machine. Or 7 inches of cellulose. 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.

Dry blown cellulose will characteristically settle and sag in place reducing its r value.