Rolled insulation generally has a lower upfront cost than blown insulation. However, blown insulation tends to have a higher R-value, meaning it can provide superior attic insulation, creating potential for cost savings on heating and cooling bills in the long term.
It's essential to wear protective clothing and a mask when installing fibreglass insulation to prevent any health risks. Overall, fibreglass insulation is the cheapest and most effective insulation option available, making it a popular choice for homeowners and builders alike.
Cons of Blown-In Attic Insulation:
Poor installation can lead to uneven coverage, material waste, and even structural issues like sagging ceilings. Hiring a skilled installer is crucial to getting the most out of this insulation type.
Best Time of Year to Buy Insulation
In this case, the spring is the best time, because you will also start to see savings in the summer months. The same is true for warmer climates, just different times of year because you'll want the job finished before the heat sets in.
The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
Rolled insulation generally has a lower upfront cost than blown insulation. However, blown insulation tends to have a higher R-value, meaning it can provide superior attic insulation, creating potential for cost savings on heating and cooling bills in the long term.
When blown-in insulation settles, your attic loses insulation performance. Settling compromises the R-value of your insulation.
However, insulation can start falling from fiberglass batts after 15 to 20 years, so if your insulation was installed in batts well over a decade ago, it might be time for an inspection or a home energy audit.
Batt insulation is more effective over the life of the building. It is true that blown-in insulation is considered to be more effective as a thermal barrier, however, this effectiveness is only temporary and will not last for the life of the building.
Blown-in insulation has an R value that ranges from 3.2 to 4 per inch depending on the type of material used and where it's installed in the house. This makes it one of the most efficient types of insulation available on the market today.
Fiberglass batts offer the easiest way to add attic insulation or just about any area of your home. However, typically batts offer the worst insulation performance for any job.
Spray foam insulation is also more expensive upfront, but it's also more durable and less time-consuming to install than batt insulation.
Fiberglass batt is considered to be the best insulation for attics. Compared to other insulation materials, it is the cheapest and easiest to install. Fiberglass batt is also incredibly energy efficient, as it helps to slow the spread of hot and cold air.
It's also fire-resistant. Rodents generally are not drawn to cellulose insulation, either.
Can cause mold and mildew – Because blown-in cellulose is made of paper products, it soaks up any and all moisture in the insulated area. A roof leak, pipe leak or high humidity can cause water to infiltrate the insulation, and insulated areas take a long time to dry back out.
Fiberglass is the cheaper option and you can install it yourself, but spray foam creates the air seal you will want in the space. The Building Science Corporation recommends a foam-based insulation material for crawl spaces because of this.
On average, the cost of blown-in insulation ranges from $1.50 to $2.80 per square foot, leading to an average cost of blown-in insulation between $1,500 and $2,800 for a 1,000-square-foot area.
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers.
On average, you can save up to 20% on your home's heating and cooling costs or up to 10% on its total energy costs by adding insulation to attics, floors, crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists, and by reducing unwanted air leaks all around your house.