Fibreglass Vs Cellulose Attic Insulation

Or 7 inches of cellulose.

Fibreglass vs cellulose attic insulation.

Cellulose and fiberglass are the two most popular types of blown insulation and they each have some pros and cons. Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Fiberglass insulation and cellulose insulation offer similar r values.

Here are some details on the differences between these kinds of insulation. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these. Before choosing blown vs.

Both cellulose and fiberglass insulation have their pros and cons but i feel that cellulose is the better bet overall. Blown in insulation requires a professional. Cellulose insulates better than fiberglass especially in very cold weather. When used in an attic space however both types of insulation are ineffective at air flow across the attic floor such as a strong gust of wind.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing. Cellulose is green cellulose is made of 80 post consumer recycled newsprint. Batt insulation take time to read this column.

Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass. Fiberglass insulation blown in attic r2 2 r4 3. 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. If fiberglass batts become compressed losing some of their air pockets then this insulation may be more affected by air flow than cellulose which performs well regardless of density.

You can get to the same place with either material. Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts. This is called wind washing. The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.

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. Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic. Cellulose and fiberglass have similar insulating values.

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