Attic Insulation Batts Vs Blown

I don t know about that but it s a common insulation material that works much better in the blown form than in batts.

Attic insulation batts vs blown.

Blown in insulation is much easier on installers. Instead of cutting and stapling rolled up layers into place they get to spray the insulation where it needs to go. Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. Fiberglass insulation is available in blown in form and so is cellulose which is referred to as loose fill cellulose.

When comparing blown in insulation vs. Often times a combination of the two is ideal. While the manufacturer will state the actual r value of the insulation that you use according to the department of energy you can expect an r value range between 2 9 and 3 8 per inch of thickness for standard fiberglass batts and between 3 7 and 4 3 for high performance fiberglass batts. When blown into attics and wall spaces loose fill fiberglass offers an average r 2 5 thermal value per inch the higher the number the greater the insulating effect.

Batts you must also examine the r values. Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1. Batt insulation take time to read this column. Both blown in and batt roll insulation can be installed in different areas of a home including the attic and the walls.

When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of around a 2 8 r factor. The answer is it depends. Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used.

The biggest disadvantage of batt insulation is that it does not fit well in non standard spaces. Notice how you don t see any of the ceiling framing down at the ceiling level. Before choosing blown vs. 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.

Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Blown in insulation requires a professional. The photo above shows an attic insulated with blown cellulose. Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose fill insulation fiberglass or cellulose can be installed on top of old insulation.

In short there is less chance of error with blown insulation as compared to batts. You also don t see any gaps that allow you to see all the way down to the ceiling drywall. That makes it fast to install but costlier than batt insulation. Disadvantages of batt insulation.

That s because blown insulation is great at filling the gaps and giving you a good complete layer of insulation. The maximum rating of batt insulation is around 4 2. Depending on the material of the insulation the installation method may vary slightly. Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt.