Blown Attic Insulation Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.

Blown attic insulation fiberglass vs cellulose.

Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. So it seems to me the real debate. Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch. Properly installed they will both remain in place for the life of the home.

Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. Very common very problematic. Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. 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.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape. Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to fiberglass. Higher r value per inch.

Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity. Blown in cellulose homeowner benefits. 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. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.

There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs. This is called wind washing. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. Batts or loose fill. Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker.

Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation.