For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.
Cellulose insulation finished attic.
Like cellulose you need a big machine to blow it in.
Assuming your current attic insulation is made from fiberglass and has a value of r 13 you d have to add roughly 10 inches of additional fiberglass to hit r 38.
The attic is open blown of cellulose.
Loose fill insulation is great for installing in attics with very little headroom and multiple obstructions such as vents and cross beams.
It is allowed to settle over time.
Blown in cellulose is an environmentally friendly material made from recycled newspaper so it s easier on your skin and lungs.
The cellulose is allowed to fill the cavities or blanket existing insulation.
Diy using cellulose insulation.
Walls are patched up and painted over.
Cellulose can slow down air flow particularly in walls.
Loss of insulating value.
If you check with the cellulose insulation manufacturers association they ll assure you that cellulose is definitely your best choice for insulation.
Wet insulation no longer performs its primary function of inhibiting heat transfer.
Blown in cellulose has a higher r rating and is less expensive than either blown insulation like fiberglass attic insulation or fiberglass batts.
Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.
The air trapped in the pockets of the insulation is part of what insulates your home.
When used in an attic space however both types of insulation are ineffective at air flow across the attic floor such as a strong gust of wind.
Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.
We did this project ourselves.
To hit code minimums you ve got to add new insulation on top of the old insulation.
The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways.
Loose fill fiberglass seems to dominate attic insulation in new construction homes and has an r value of approximately 2 5 per inch.
It can be effectively blown over existing insulation and.
Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.
No pressure is placed on the cellulose.
You can get to the same place with either material.
Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Saturated insulation typically loses at least 40 of its insulating r value.
Pros and cons of loose fill fiberglass attic insulation.
Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.
I am here to show the details of insulating our garage.
