There are many different types of attic insulation and many people want to know about it. While this report will be about the types of attic insulation, it must be remembered that insulation for roofs, floors and walls is essentially the same. Only 3 of the many insulation types are relevant even though there are many other materials and styles being adopted for attic insulation. We'll discuss these major types of attic insulation and try to decide which is best.
Every time you look at a particular type of insulation, there will be different questions that you would want to ask. Such as, is this the best type of insulation, will I need to get it installed by a qualified person or can I do it by myself? What sort of budget is needed and how well does it fit my needs? These questions will be answered for the 3 normal forms of insulation for the attic.
Batt Insulation for attics comes in big chunks of interwoven fiber. When they stick to each other and get entangled, these fibers create effective insulation. Batt insulation is made of fiberglass or cotton. Both are almost identical in terms of insulating efficiency.
Batt insulation provides reasonable protection but suffers from the drawback of not filling spaces well. Any gaps and crevices that escape being filled by insulation can potentially encourage air circulation with resultant heat loss. Incompletely filled areas become heat sumps which cool the building in winter and heat it up inappropriately during summer. Batt insulation is poor in this respect.
The primary reason for this is the difficulty in installing batt insulation to fit into every niche and corner of the attic. Invariably there are spaces beneath and in between ceiling joists which are unsealed when batt isn't cut properly. Insulating the spaces around wires, exhaust fans and recessed lighting is also difficult.
Blown Insulation for Attics - Another one of the popular types of attic insulation is blown in insulation. This is made up of smaller pieces than batts, and is installed by blowing in the insulating material using a fire-hose like device. An insulation machine outside will mix up the chunks and generate air under pressure to blow the material into the attic.
Blown attic insulation can be made of cellulose or fiberglass. In terms of insulating capacity, both have comparable R values when installed to a thickness of 3 inches or so. Cellulose insulation is manufactured from old newspapers, while fiberglass is a derivative of sand. Both forms are better at insulation when blown in as compared to batts.
Blown in insulation is one of the best types of attic insulation because it fills the attic nearly completely. You would hardly be looking down into the ceiling drywall. The blown in insulation offers a great and full insulation which reduces heat loss and keeps the energy costs of your building in check.
Every time you look at a particular type of insulation, there will be different questions that you would want to ask. Such as, is this the best type of insulation, will I need to get it installed by a qualified person or can I do it by myself? What sort of budget is needed and how well does it fit my needs? These questions will be answered for the 3 normal forms of insulation for the attic.
Batt Insulation for attics comes in big chunks of interwoven fiber. When they stick to each other and get entangled, these fibers create effective insulation. Batt insulation is made of fiberglass or cotton. Both are almost identical in terms of insulating efficiency.
Batt insulation provides reasonable protection but suffers from the drawback of not filling spaces well. Any gaps and crevices that escape being filled by insulation can potentially encourage air circulation with resultant heat loss. Incompletely filled areas become heat sumps which cool the building in winter and heat it up inappropriately during summer. Batt insulation is poor in this respect.
The primary reason for this is the difficulty in installing batt insulation to fit into every niche and corner of the attic. Invariably there are spaces beneath and in between ceiling joists which are unsealed when batt isn't cut properly. Insulating the spaces around wires, exhaust fans and recessed lighting is also difficult.
Blown Insulation for Attics - Another one of the popular types of attic insulation is blown in insulation. This is made up of smaller pieces than batts, and is installed by blowing in the insulating material using a fire-hose like device. An insulation machine outside will mix up the chunks and generate air under pressure to blow the material into the attic.
Blown attic insulation can be made of cellulose or fiberglass. In terms of insulating capacity, both have comparable R values when installed to a thickness of 3 inches or so. Cellulose insulation is manufactured from old newspapers, while fiberglass is a derivative of sand. Both forms are better at insulation when blown in as compared to batts.
Blown in insulation is one of the best types of attic insulation because it fills the attic nearly completely. You would hardly be looking down into the ceiling drywall. The blown in insulation offers a great and full insulation which reduces heat loss and keeps the energy costs of your building in check.
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