Blown In Fiberglass Vs Cellulose Attic

Fiberglass manufacturers have developed blown fiberglass insulation they claim won t settle over time.

Blown in fiberglass vs cellulose attic.

Cellulose can get you to r 40. Cellulose insulation blown in attic r 3 6 r3 7. Costs depend on your insulation contractor their suppliers and market conditions. According to research done at the oak ridge national lab fiberglass loses up to 50 of its r value in very cold conditions.

At this writing our suppliers currently offer cellulose for less than fiberglass. 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. So can fiberglass if you blow a little more of it on top. Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity.

Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9. Good insulation lowers energy bills by trapping heat or cold air inside a building. More consistent pricing from cellulose manufacturers than fiberglass. Cellulose is known to create a massive cloud of dust when it is installed meaning breathing apparatus is required if you are considering a large installation.

Cellulose is less of a health risk compared to fibreglass. Its installation costs are higher. While fiberglass insulation is easier to install and more common used about 85 of the time cellulose insulation is often considered more energy efficient. Making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

The higher the r value the more efficient it is. At 3 5 per inch of material the r value of blown in cellulose is 23 better per inch than fiberglass batts. This concern can actually be avoided in both cases if the insulation is more densely packed in the spaces but fiberglass will require special training and tools to do so and even then it proves more difficult than cellulose. Isn t fiberglass cheaper than cellulose.

You can find high r value insulation produced in both fiberglass and blown cellulose. So it seems to me the real debate. Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation. Cellulose resists blowing when installed fiberglass tends to blow around stick to the attic ceiling and drift.

Cellulose produces much less static than fiberglass. Cellulose is easier to keep out of bird blocks and air conditioner condensate pans.