Attic Insulation Fiberglass Vs Cellulose

The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.

Attic insulation fiberglass vs cellulose.

Cellulose insulates better than fiberglass especially in very cold weather. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. Cellulose wins last update.

Batt insulation take time to read this column. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Fiberglass insulation and cellulose insulation offer similar r values.

Blown in insulation requires a professional. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Thus creating a more energy efficient home. You can get to the same place with either material.

Understanding what you are putting into your home is important to you as a homeowner a parent and an individual and its important to us that you know the facts. Both cellulose and fiberglass insulation have their pros and cons but i feel that cellulose is the better bet overall. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing. Fiberglass batt or roll insulation r3 2.

We have written many articles on the different types of insulation. Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these. Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass.

Check out our many resources below. This is called wind washing. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker. 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.

Or 7 inches of cellulose. Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts. 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. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass.

Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Both cellulose and fiberglass insulation provide about the same level of insulating power or r value per inch with slightly different results based on the installation procedure.