Because it is denser than fiberglass cellulose is much more resistant to wind washing.
Cellulose vs fiberglass blown attic insulation.
Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic.
Dirty fiberglass batts have a significantly reduced r value.
Batts or loose fill.
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.
Fiberglass insulation cannot stop air from passing through it meaning that more than 30 of heat or air conditioning can escape.
Compared to fiberglass cellulose is a superb air blocker.
The two main least expensive and most commonly used residential insulation materials is cellulose and fibreglass.
Sometimes loose fill insulation is referred to as blown in insulation because an installer literally blows it into your home with a special machine.
This is called wind washing.
Air moving through a vented attic deposits dirt and dust into fiberglass batts.
Types of fiberglass and cellulose insulation.
Fiberglass batts however are less expensive costing on average 0 30 to 0 40 a square foot for 6 inches of insulation.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these insulation materials.
Cellulose insulation blown in wall r 3 8 r3 9.
Blown cellulose is typically the preferred choice of insulation for attics.
Both fiberglass and cellulose insulation can be installed to completely fill the space inside of wall floor or ceiling cavity.
Blown in cellulose homeowner benefits.
Loose fill or blown cellulose insulation is manufactured primarily from recycled newspapers a very benign product so it poses virtually no ongoing health risk.
Higher r value per inch.
So it seems to me the real debate.
Cellulose has an r value of 3 5 3 7 per inch where fiberglass has around 2 1 2 7 r per inch.
Very common very problematic.
Cellulose retains more of its r value through a wider range of temperatures compared to 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.
How are they similar and how are they different from blown fiberglass vs.
There are two ways to get your insulation whether fiberglass or cellulose.