Best Type Of Blown In Attic Insulation

Spray foam offers the best attic insulation performance available.

Best type of blown in attic insulation.

Foam in place insulation can be blown into walls on attic surfaces or under floors to insulate and reduce air leakage. Handy homeowners can install blown in insulation in the attic. They sport insulation values of approximately r 6 5 and r 3 6 per inch respectively. Blowing insulation into walls is best left to the pros because it involves drilling into stud spaces that may contain electrical.

Insulation decreases the amount of heat entering from outside when it s hot and traps warmth inside when it s cold. It is effective in filling in areas that are difficult to reach. R values vary based on the type thickness and density of the insulation material. Blown in spray foam batts and blankets.

Insulation that is blown into your attic via a machine is a type of loose fill cellulose material. Your options for attic insulation range from radiant barriers to sheets of mineral wool but most homeowners stick with products made from cellulose or fiberglass. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Insulation is rated by its r value.

For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices. Blown in insulation also fills the tiny crevices where heat or air conditioning can escape from your home. The answer to the question of which attic insulation is best is of course entirely circumstantial. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material.

Some installations can yield a higher r value than traditional batt insulation for the same thickness and can fill even the smallest cavities creating an effective air barrier. Your home s r value score will guide you toward the type of insulation you need. In particularly cold climates you might go up to r 60. In general an attic s r value should be between r 30 and r 49.

The third major type of insulation is spray foam. Closed cell and open cell aka 2 pound and pound respectively. Just as there are two types of blown insulation fiberglass and cellulose and two types of people those who divide everything into two groups and those who don t. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

R value measures how resistant types of insulation are to heat flow. We offer our review of the three most popular types of attic insulation with a look at each one s pros and cons. Spray foam attic insulation.