Blown Cellulose Vs Fiberglass Insulation Attic

More consistent pricing from cellulose manufacturers than fiberglass.

Blown cellulose vs fiberglass insulation attic. Cellulose resists blowing when installed fiberglass tends to blow around stick to the attic ceiling and drift. Blown in insulation requires a professional. 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. This is well documented by the university of colorado in their 1990 evaluation of identical homes insulated with fiberglass and cellulose.

The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass. Or 7 inches of cellulose. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics.

Before choosing blown vs. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation.

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. 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. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions. Fiberglass insulation contains billions of tiny glass fibers which contain trapped bubbles of air.

The results of their study showed cellulose reduced air leakage by 38 and required 26 less money to heat and cool than the fiberglass home. Cellulose produces much less static than fiberglass. Installation costs for blown in insulation costs around 2 a square foot where installation costs for batts is around 1 a square foot. How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs.

Cellulose insulation includes cellulose cells that have natural insulating power. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. Batt insulation take time to read this column. The paper is broken down into cellular fibers that provide insulation.