Attic Batt Insulation Vs Blown In

When it comes to adding or replacing the insulation in your attic there are several types of insulation to choose from.

Attic batt insulation vs blown in.

Often times a combination of the two is ideal. When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. A large machine outside churns the chunks and uses air to blow them up through the hose. Blown in insulation is often made of recycled materials including loose fill fiberglass made of 75 recycled materials and cellulose which consists of recycled newspaper.

Sloppy people aren t suited for this job. Batts must be cut tightly and you can t have gaps. The thermal performance of fiberglass insulation is directly related to its ability to trap and maintain very small pockets of air. It is sold in bags and made of materials that are of varying degrees of recycled.

Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of around a 2 8 r factor. Batt insulation as the name suggests blown in insulation is a type of loose fill insulation that is literally blown in to a wall cavity. 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. Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product.

Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt. The installer taking his best firefighter pose holds a large hose and blows the chunks into the attic. Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Two of the more common forms of insulation are blown in insulation and rolled insulation which is also referred to as batt insulation.

That makes it fast to install but costlier than batt insulation. The answer is it depends. Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Disadvantages of batt insulation. Instead of cutting and stapling rolled up layers into place they get to spray the insulation where it needs to go. Blown in fiberglass creates a seamless blanket in your attic. Blown in insulation is much easier on installers.

The maximum rating of batt insulation is around 4 2. A better choice is insulation that comes in smaller chunks. The first difference in blown in vs. We use both blown in and batt insulation depending on the situation at hand.