Cellulose Vs Fiberglass Blown Attic Insulation

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

Cellulose vs fiberglass blown attic insulation.

Sometimes loose fill insulation is referred to as blown in insulation because an installer literally blows it into your home with a special machine. Very common very problematic. 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. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing.

Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity. Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk. Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape.

Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Higher r value per inch. Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation.

How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs. 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. Batts or loose fill. Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9.

Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. 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. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker. Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to fiberglass.

This is called wind washing. Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.

So it seems to me the real debate. There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose. Properly installed they will both remain in place for the life of the home.