Both cellulose and rigid foam board insulation offer a lot of value for your home. Cellulose is environmentally friendly, creates a great seal, is fire and mold-resistant, and is excellent at soundproofing. On the other hand, rigid foam board insulation has an incredibly long lifespan and a high R-value.
Which type of insulation is best for attic?
fiberglass batt
Many people consider fiberglass batt to be the best attic insulation. It consists of plastic reinforced by small glass fibers. The batt version comes in blanket form — i.e., small, pre-cut sections that you can lay down wherever you need to.
What are the disadvantages of cellulose insulation?
Cons of Cellulose Insulation
It generates a lot of dust during installation. It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value. Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling. It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.
What insulation has the highest R-value per inch?
Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.
Is cellulose insulation good for attic?
Youtube quote:So it can be packed into hard-to-reach. Places and behind existing walls in most cases this is going to reduce the installation cost since you aren't removing any wall coverings.
How thick should cellulose insulation be in attic?
Cellulose insulation should be 8-19 inches deep in your attic. Generally, the proper depth of cellulose depends on the following factors: Desired R-value. Insulation density.
Do mice like cellulose insulation?
Rodents generally are not drawn to cellulose insulation, either. This is because it’s loose and tends to fall in on itself. It’s not ideal for burrowing and building a nest. You can pretty easily install cellulose yourself, but you have to rent a special machine to blow it into the walls of your attic.
How long does cellulose insulation last?
20 to 30 years
Because it is made primarily of recycled materials, however, cellulose insulation does degrade over time. The typical lifespan is 20 to 30 years, with degradation beginning as early as 15 years after installation. As with other types of insulation, severe weather or outside interference can reduce the lifespan.
Can you put too much insulation in attic?
It’s possible to over-insulate an attic as too much will cause moisture buildup and eventually result in mold. Eventually, adding more insulation leads to diminishing returns in trapping heat as well.
How thick should attic insulation be?
about 10 to 14 inches
The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
How much of a difference does attic insulation make?
One of the places in your home where a little bit of attention can make a big difference in your comfort — and heating bill — is the attic. According to the Department of Energy, properly insulating the attic can save 10 to 50 percent on a typical heating bill.
Can you add new insulation over old?
Yes! You can absolutely new insulation over old insulation… as long as it isn’t wet. Energy Star advises as follows: “If it… appears that the insulation [is wet or] has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem to prevent a reoccurrence.
Is R 19 insulation Good for attic?
As of 2021 attic insulation needs to be R49. That’s 12 inches thick. WOW right. Well so much for using your attic for storage.
Is R30 insulation good for attic?
R30 insulation is the minimum insulation recommended for an Attic from climate zone 1 to 3, while it can be used in cathedral ceilings in all climate zones across the USA. It can be used as maximum insulation in climate zones 4 – 8 of the USA for floors.
Is R38 attic insulation good?
Choose R-38, and that same house will likely realize heat gain through the ceilings every sunny afternoon during summer. In the winter, it’s just as powerful. Only your R-38 is trying to slow the flow of heat loss, as hot always moves to cold. Choose R-49, and move on with life!
What is R-38 attic insulation?
The thicker the insulation, the greater/higher it’s R-value and performance. As of 2016, the standard building code for attic insulation in L.A., Orange, Ventura and surrounding counties is R-38. Back in the 1970’s, when many of our homes were built, the code was R-19 and in the years to follow it was R-30.
What is the difference between R38 and R49?
A ceiling with an R-value of 38 lets through only 1/38 of the amount of energy per square foot that passes through that window, or about 2.6% of the energy; a ceiling with an R-value of 49 lets through only 1/49 of the amount of energy per square foot that passes through that window, or about 2.0 % of the energy.
