Cellulose Attic Insulation Vs Fiberglass

Cellulose is more difficult to cheat than fiberglass.

Cellulose attic insulation vs fiberglass.

Air leaks can eventually lead to problems with moisture and condensation. A given sample of cellulose insulation will provide better thermal performance than an identically sized sample of fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass is a suspected carcinogen. By nature the cells inside the cellulose insulation have their own insulating power.

Cellulose provides better sound insulation than fiberglass i e homes are less noisy with it. Sources many fiberglass installers fluff the fiber with extra air so you don t get as much insulation as you re supposed to. It is made from paper that has a minimum of 85 recycled content such as newspaper. Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.

This allows the insulation to get into the small pockets and crevices that fiberglass wouldn t be able to. Fiberglass insulation cons air leakage fiberglass doesn t do much at all to slow the flow of air while cellulose has some success. Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these.

Fiberglass fibers may become airborne which can be considered a pollutant. This keeps the air from moving within the insulation and from penetrations between the air conditioned space and the attic. Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Unless you opt for spray foam then the insulation choices normally come down to cellulose and fibreglass.

When using cellulose blown in dry insulation it requires a machine to achieve its purpose and a training session from wherever you rent the blower from. Thus creating a more energy efficient home. Cellulose insulation like spray foam insulation limits air movement. Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape.

It does not pollute the air during manufacture or use as much energy to produce as fiberglass. Cellulose insulation is considered a greener material than fiberglass. A study by the university of colorado found that cellulose insulation reduced air leakage by 38. Which means cellulose insulation can be compressed into a space and offer additional r value.

Fiberglass insulation is the easiest insulation product on the market to install and if installed correctly the most effective product on the market for home attic insulation. The reality of installing cellulose insulation in contrast to fiberglass insulation cellulose insulation does not trap air in between it s fibers to control heat.