Cellulose Insulation In Attic Ceiling
But there s probably nothing to prevent air from moving past plumbing air duct and electrical penetrations.
Cellulose insulation in attic ceiling. Loose fill cellulose is relatively inexpensive yet still has an r value of about 3 5 per inch of thickness compared to fiberglass r value between r3 to r4 per inch. In spite of all their benefits neither fiberglass nor cellulose insulation provides an adequate air seal. Lighter in weight than cellulose or mineral wool but it settles more than those materials so you ve got to put in a thicker layer to get the protection you need. Or whole house fans.
This reduces settling and decreases the amount of cellulose needed. This can be achieved through the use of truss joists scissor truss framing or sufficiently large rafters. Given that both insulators are equal in r value the difference in thermal resistance relies heavily on proper installation and air sealing. Stabilized cellulose is used most often in attic roof insulation.
Pick up the blower and insulation. The r value of cellulose insulation ranges from 3 6 3 8 per inch and spray foam insulation ranges from 3 5 3 7 per inch of insulation. Loose fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics. This can prove advantageous at reducing the overall weight of the product on the ceiling drywall helping prevent possible sag.
Sure there s insulation in your attic and crawlspace. Cellulose insulation is usually a loose fill insulation. For example cathedral ceilings built with 2x12 rafters have space for standard 10 inch batts r 30 and ventilation. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products.
Cellulose blown in ceiling insulation is a good choice for diyers. If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos. Foam insulation may be made from polystyrene polyisocyanurate or polyurethane which are all types of plastic. Blown in cellulose has a higher r rating and is less expensive than either blown insulation like fiberglass attic insulation or fiberglass batts.
The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. When walls are already finished injecting loose fill cellulose insulation is one of the few ways of adding. The r values of both insulations will accumulate. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation.
It is applied with a very small amount of water to activate an adhesive of some kind. For example if your attic already has fiberglass insulation blankets installed you can improve its r value by installing blown in cellulose insulation on top of the blankets. Recycled glass or sand that s melted and spun into fibers. Or attic staircase hatches.