Attic Insulation Cellulose Vs Spray Foam

As part of our ongoing mission to educate our customers we are here to discuss the best insulation for attics and the pros and cons that go along with each insulation type.

Attic insulation cellulose vs spray foam.

Keep in mind that cellulose has a lower r value than spray foam though it is still a highly effective method of insulating your home. Spray foam insulation and cellulose insulation. Although they both have their advantages you have to be wise to choose the one that fits your house s needs. It is the most expensive option with costs running as high as two or three times as much as fiberglass batts or cellulose loose fill.

Earlier this year i got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic. I d blow insulation on the attic floor after air sealing of course. That s why whenever cellulose is blown into a sealed framing bay stud rafter joist etc it should be dense packed. Spray foam insulation cellulose.

Spray foam insulation spray foam insulation like icynene is also sprayed in but because the material is different from cellulose insulation the result is also different. If you don t have hvac and ducts in the attic spray foam on the roofline isn t really necessary. When it comes to insulating your home there are two options. You ll spend less than you would with spray foam insulation.

When icynene spray foam is applied it begins as a liquid but quickly expands into a foam which adheres to the surface which it is applied. Foam does not provide for complete insulation needs and does not address heat loss gain via convention through framing members. Dense packed cellulose will not settle. The big disadvantage with spray foam is cost.

Cellulose vs fiberglass vs spray foam. Properly mixing and applying spray foam insulation requires substantial expertise and can only be done by trained professionals. On the other hand cellulose insulation is more reasonably priced but then it might not last longer than the former. Cellulose attic insulation pros and cons.

It has a smaller more compact cell structure. Cellulose for attic insulation if the hvac equipment and air ducts are in your attic it is better to install spray foam insulation specifically with open cell spray foam to protect the equipment and ducts. Spray foam insulation drawbacks. The boric acid in the insulation can provide a form of pest control.

It is a very good air barrier as well as a water vapor barrier. Cellulose insulation is the oldest material used in home. However if your attic doesn t have any hvac equipment or air ducts you should install cellulose installation. A lot of builders and homeowners are going with spray foam insulation because of the airtightness benefits but then the questioner mentioned that the spray foam contractor had intentionally left big holes to the outside by not sealing the gable vents.

Nothing unusual about that. Closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation is a much more dense type of foam than open cell.