Better For Attic Insulation Fiberglass Or Cellulose

When installed properly in similar areas they perform about the same at 3 5 to 3 7 r value.

Better for attic insulation fiberglass or cellulose.

Loose fill insulation is just better. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. From the speed and ease of installation to the virtual impossibility of installing it wrong assuming you re experienced loose fill fiberglass or cellulose is usually more effective than batt insulation. Batts must be cut tightly and you can t have gaps.

Sources many fiberglass installers fluff the fiber with extra air so you don t get as much insulation as you re supposed to. The thermal performance of fiberglass insulation is directly related to its ability to trap and maintain very small pockets of air. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. Fiberglass and cellulose have similar r values with ranges depending on how and where they are installed.

Cellulose insulation is also chemically treated to resist fire insects and mold. Blown in fiberglass creates a seamless blanket in your attic. It has a better resistance to air flow and prevents the upward movement of air caused by temperature differences. Cellulose insulation is considered green as it is made from recycled newspaper and requires less energy to manufacture than fiberglass insulation.

The higher the r value the better the insulation performs. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic. Cellulose and fiberglass have similar insulating values. Sloppy people aren t suited for this job.

Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Cellulose has a slightly higher r factor a unit of thermal resistance with an r value of approximately 3 0 per inch while fiberglass ranges from r 2 1 to r 2 7. Fibreglass is perhaps the most common product available in the market for insulation outpacing its close competitor cellulose by 50 1. Fiberglass is a suspected carcinogen.

Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates. Both fibreglass and cellulose are the two most inexpensive insulation products that you could use. Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions.

Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass.