Attic Insulation Batts Vs Blown

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Attic insulation batts vs blown.

Disadvantages of batt insulation. When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. Before choosing blown vs. 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.

Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1. When comparing blown in insulation vs. Batt insulation take time to read this column. We use both blown in and batt insulation depending on the situation at hand.

Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of around a 2 8 r factor. When a home is fully finished the scales of batt vs. Depending on the material of the insulation the installation method may vary slightly. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards.

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets batt or blown in insulation. The maximum rating of batt insulation is around 4 2. 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. The answer is it depends.

You can hire a contractor carrying relevant business insurance and using skilled and trained workers to install your batt insulation much more quickly than a batt insulation install might take. In short there is less chance of error with blown insulation as compared to batts. Batts you must also examine the r values. Blown in insulation requires a professional.

On the negative side blown insulation will normally require a professional who has access to the blowing machine that is needed. Notice how you don t see any of the ceiling framing down at the ceiling level. Fiberglass insulation is available in blown in form and so is cellulose which is referred to as loose fill cellulose. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt. That s because blown insulation is great at filling the gaps and giving you a good complete layer of insulation. I don t know about that but it s a common insulation material that works much better in the blown form than in batts. Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists and unfaced rolls should be used.

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.