Cellulose Vs Fiberglass Blown Attic Insulation
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.
Cellulose vs fiberglass blown attic insulation. Properly installed they will both remain in place for the life of the home. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. 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. 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 blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9. Higher r value per inch. Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to fiberglass. This is called wind washing.
The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape. So it seems to me the real debate.
Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity. There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or 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. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing.
Batts or loose fill. Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch. Blown in cellulose homeowner benefits. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs.
Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.
Very common very problematic. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation.