Which Insulation Is Better For Attic

A large machine outside churns the chunks and uses air to blow them up through the hose.

Which insulation is better for attic.

Achieving greater r values in exterior walls in exterior walls add insulating sheathing to achieve a greater r value in your wall system. Cellulose recycled ground up paper with boric acid added for insect control and fire resistance offers a better attic insulation option than batts. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

The installer taking his best firefighter pose holds a large hose and blows the chunks into the attic. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. A better choice is insulation that comes in smaller chunks. Batts must be cut tightly and you can t have gaps.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The thermal performance of fiberglass insulation is directly related to its ability to trap and maintain very small pockets of air. And you may use very different insulation materials. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to r 38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on insulation type.

With this method the insulation is simply blown onto the attic floor and no matter what type of joists studs or wiring that may be in play the blown insulation will naturally form itself tight around any of these creating a layer of strong insulation. Blanket insulation is available as batts or rolls and is the easiest diy insulation material. Cellulose and other fibrous materials are good and inexpensive choices. If you choose to install cellulose yourself you can buy the insulation in bags from your local home improvement store.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. The main benefit of blown insulation is that it is a much more consistent type of insulation. Sloppy people aren t suited for this job.

R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. This type of insulation. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

As mentioned earlier attic ceiling insulation is easier and less expensive than roof insulation. Installing or adding insulation to the ceiling plane is rather straighforward. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation. It s available in fiberglass mineral wool plastic fibers and natural fibers.

Insulation level are specified by r value.