What is the best attic insulation: fiberglass or cellulose? This one is a tough call. Either cellulose or fiberglass insulation can give you significant energy bill savings by decreasing your home's energy consumption.
Both fiberglass and cellulose offer different styles to cater to every attic need. Fiberglass has rolls, batts, and blown-in, while cellulose insulation has dense-packed, wet-spray, and loose-fill as well.
Either type curbs the noise outside your house and comes from recycled materials. Both have health risks to account for.
In this article, we will factor in the challenges, types, and benefits of both fiberglass and cellulose insulation so you can make an informed choice between two of America's most popular insulation.
What Is Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is one of the most widely used types of insulation in America. Attic specialists refer to it as the "greenest insulation" due to the straightforward garbage-to-attic process it goes through. Manufacturers produce cellulose insulation with recycled newspapers, cardboard, denim, and other recycled paper products. Attic specialists even report seeing bits of currency in some of their cellulose insulation bales.
Homeowners may choose to install dense-packed cellulose, loose-fill cellulose (or blown-in cellulose), and wet-spray cellulose in their attic. People prefer the installation of cellulose insulation because it is made of sustainable materials, and the minimal processing of turning it into insulation is environment-friendly. Manufacturers produce cellulose in electrically-driven mills, which release little to no greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.
What Is Fiberglass Insulation?
Fiberglass is an equally green insulation material. Fiberglass insulation owes its fluffy and shiny appearance to spun recycled glass, reinforced plastic, sand, and other recycled materials.
Homeowners may install fiberglass insulation as fiberglass batts, loose-fill fiberglass, or rolled fiberglass insulation. Homeowners favor fiberglass as its uses go beyond the home; you can sometimes see it on boats. Batt insulation is the easiest to install and can be the perfect weekend project for the DIYer. Overall, fiberglass is a superior fire retardant.
Pros & Cons Of Cellulose
Pros Of Cellulose Attic Insulation
- According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, no adverse health effects have been identified with cellulose insulation. It is recognized and categorized as safe as ordinary household dust. However, installing cellulose causes a lot of dust. Certified attic specialists still need to wear proper PPE and do an extensive cleanup.
- Cellulose is high-density insulation. That high-density quality translates into exceptional air sealing and excellent sound reduction.
- Cellulose insulation can deliver if the certified attic specialist determines that you need insulation up to an R-50 value or 15" thickness. Cellulose insulation ensures that there's no unwanted air leakage in your attic. Cellulose can also be a powerful thermal barrier protecting your attic and living spaces against extreme outside temperatures.
Cons Of Cellulose Attic Insulation
- It has a short lifespan of up to 30 years only. Cellulose vs. fiberglass? It's worth noting that cellulose is more expensive than fiberglass attic insulation.
- Cellulose is known to cause the ceiling to sag, and it settles over time, leading to lessened R-values.
- Cellulose insulation is not for the DIYer. Installation of cellulose requires blowers and pneumatic tools. Cellulose vs. fiberglass blown insulation? Both fiberglass and cellulose installation need a blowing machine to cover irregularly-shaped attics and reach tight spaces, ceilings, and walls.
- You would need to get a vapor barrier to go along with your cellulose insulation as it isn't moisture-resistant. Absorbing moisture quickly results in water damage and shortens the life span of the cellulose insulation even more.
- Cellulose attracts dust and lint more and has low fire resistance.
Pros & Cons Of Fiberglass
Pros Of Fiberglass Attic Insulation
- You can reuse fiberglass blown-in insulation by collecting it and transferring it to another area. However, there's not much data if cellulose material holds up well if you relocate it.
- Fiberglass insulation material decreases external noise and is outstanding in providing soundproofing, especially when installed in wall cavities.
- Not only eco-friendly but also DIY-friendly too! Save on labor costs when you DIY installing batt or roll fiberglass insulation.
- Fiberglass vs. cellulose insulation? Fiberglass has a long lifespan of up to 50 years compared to cellulose insulation. It is low-maintenance too. You only need to inspect for water damage once in a while.
- Cellulose vs. fiberglass insulation cost? Fiberglass insulation is more cost-effective than cellulose. It has an affordable average price of up to $0.50 per square foot of insulation.
- Fiberglass generally does not promote mildew and mold and is non-flammable. But as with any other insulation, periodic checks are still a must.
Cons Of Fiberglass Attic Insulation
- Breathing in or touching the microscopic glass fibers of fiberglass insulation can irritate the lungs and skin. When handling fiberglass, it's best to don gloves and dust masks. You must also wear pants, long sleeves, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A certified attic specialist would have all the proper protective gear needed.
- Another concern with doing-it-yourself is that fiberglass particles could enter the home air supply when homeowners unknowingly leave HVAC ducts lying in the fiberglass loose-fill insulation. Hiring a certified attic specialist ensures that you have all your bases covered.
Conclusion
Offhand, cellulose insulation comes off as better insulation than fiberglass because of its higher R-values, higher density, lesser warnings on the packaging, and better impact on the environment and health. But take what some other attic professionals might say with a grain of salt. Some might want only to upsell you with the more expensive cellulose insulation, stressing the higher R-value of cellulose vs. fiberglass and the higher density that cellulose insulation offers.
Remember that R-values are dependent on your home's climate zone, location, and age. You don’t need the full-blown R-50 value when your attic does not require it. In fact, over insulating your attic opens a whole other world of problems.
Unknowingly compressing insulation loses its R-value, and your attic may not be built for the heavier, denser cellulose insulation. Your home may be more optimal with the lighter fiberglass insulation with an R-38 value.
Blown-in cellulose vs. fiberglass? As for the health risks, you would still need to rely on certified attic specialists in full gear to install both blown-in cellulose and fiberglass insulation. It's best to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and ready protective equipment they offer.
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