Cellulose Vs Fiberglass Attic

The paper is broken down into cellular fibers that provide insulation.

Cellulose vs fiberglass attic. Fibreglass is perhaps the most common product available in the market for insulation outpacing its close competitor cellulose by 50 1. Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing. It is made of shredded paper plus a fire retardant chemical known as a borate. Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker.

Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans. But which one should you pick. Cellulose provides better sound insulation than fiberglass i e homes are less noisy with it. Cellulose has an r factor of at least 3 8 per inch moderately higher than fiberglass batts.

If you ve got bare uninsulated areas on the floor of your attic getting some kind of insulation in there is a must. In most houses around atlanta the choice of insulation material comes down to fiberglass vs. Fiberglass insulation contains billions of tiny glass fibers which contain trapped bubbles of air. Once it has settled fiberglass has an r value of 2 1 2 7 per inch while cellulose has an r value of approximately 3 0 per inch.

Once installed in the attic cellulose loose fill insulation looks like mounds of freshly fallen snow covering the attic floor. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. This is called wind washing. Sources many fiberglass installers fluff the fiber with extra air so you don t get as much insulation as you re supposed to.

Better insulator sometimes cellulose and fiberglass batts typically have similar r values of about 3 2 to 3 8 per inch. Cellulose resists blowing when installed fiberglass tends to blow around stick to the attic ceiling and drift. Fiberglass is the most common. Thus creating a more energy efficient home.

You can add batts in easy to access places such as the attic but not in between walls. Cellulose is the second most common. Loose fill blown fiberglass insulation has another slight problem. Any insulation is better than no insulation.

Because the loose particles blown in fill any and all odd shaped areas of the attic floor cellulose offers superior coverage without the need to custom fit pieces. The manufacture of fiberglass is 80 more energy intensive than cellulose. More consistent pricing from cellulose manufacturers than fiberglass. Benefits of cellulose insulation.

Cellulose insulation includes cellulose cells that have natural insulating power. As the temperature difference between the living space and attic increases the r value of blown fiberglass diminishes. Fiberglass is a suspected carcinogen. Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.

Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value. Both fibreglass and cellulose are the two most inexpensive insulation products that you could use.