Cellulose Or Fiberglass Blown In Insulation Attic

The installation process for dry cellulose insulation looks like this.

Cellulose or fiberglass blown in insulation 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. Advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass. 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.

Wet blown cellulose is also subject to similar contamination too. Installation costs for blown in insulation costs around 2 a square foot where installation costs for batts is around 1 a square foot. Blown in insulation may be used in attics with ample room for an installer. This is the most common type of blown in.

Blown in cellulose and fiberglass are excellent products for new construction. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. It can be used by itself to fill in joist cavities that have no insulation or laid as a thick layer over the top of existing batts of fiberglass insulation. For eco minded homeowners cellulose is often the insulation of choice because it s made from finely shredded recycled cardboard or newspaper.

Typically attics with a pitch of 3 12 or greater will provide enough room for an installer to crawl through the trusses. However that service does add to the cost of restoration. In this case we worked with the insurance company and took care of packing out belongings in the attic. 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.

As a recycled paper product cellulose is prone to absorb moisture that can cause wood rot and mould. You can get to the same place with either material. For attics cellulose insulation is blown in parallel to the joists. Or 7 inches of 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. Often fiberglass batts are used in areas with limited access. Once the material becomes wet it s very difficult to clean up. Attic blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics.

Dry blown cellulose will characteristically settle and sag in place reducing its r value. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.