Over from Knots. OK pros, Confirm my suspicions. My son just bought a house with about 2″ of random glass insulation in the attic in Northern OH snow belt.
A contractor says blown in cellulose, I say 12″ glass batts. Blown is quick and easy, Glass batts have longevity and won’t settle.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Replies
Cellulose. Less air movement through it.
The money invested in glass batts would be better spent on beer.
Cells is it. They blow to a depth that settles to a known R value.
The cells will stop air leaks, fiberglass filters it so you have big black spots to show you where it isn't doing what you paid for.
Cells or beer, skip the FG.
Joe H
Aren't you glad you stopped in?
You get a better job, faster, for fewer $$$ with cells, and it's recycled material, too.
I know, it's just not right... <G>
my dog preferred fiberglass... but we always use cellulose
in Ohio , i'd be blowing about 24" ( apx. R-60 )
Cell often has a hair more R per inch. Yes, it will settle, but you compensate for that ahead of time (by blowing extra in). Cell isn't scratchy. Cell fills voids and cracks better. My WAG is that they're comparable price wise. And I'd wager a second guess that cell is not only considered more 'green' but has less embodied energy. It is just recycled newspaper with some stuff added.
[edit edit to add] if you want even better performance than cell or FG, then have expanding foam blown in ($$$).
jt8
"A little 'enthusiasm' and all problems seems small!"
Edited 7/15/2008 4:41 pm by JohnT8
Edited 7/15/2008 4:41 pm by JohnT8
Cellulose; the R-value is the settled value, so you don't have to fret about losing something you didn't have in the first place. A LOT better coverage around irregularities, etc. ... i.e. more consistency.
Put baffles in the eaves. Make sure they apply evenly ... no average ... call a minimum and make them do the minimum.
It is recycled material, too ... now you are green. :)
Cellulose is the way to go. Fibreglass loses R value as the temperature drops.
Bruce,
Your contractor is correct. Cellulose blown-in is *way* better than glass batts. It is also better than blown-in glass fiber insulation. See other posts for some of the reasons.
Cellulose also outperforms fiberglass in resisting infrared radiation, which really comes into play in the summertime.
It also is a better acoustical barrier. When we blew cellulose to replace the glass batts in our attic, the freeway noise at night pretty much fell below the threshold of our hearing, whereas beforehand there was a constant roar.
Bill
Good Post! What about longevity? I've got blown-in fiberglass. I need to add more but cant find it anywhere, everyone sells cellulose. My concern is the paper, fiberglass is inorganic, it wont rot. I know that cellulose is treated with borates to prevent rot. See my dilemma?
I think it is treated w/ borates for fire safety, isn't it?
The borates do both things, and also discourage nesting by rodents.Bill
Some Lowe's are strating to carry the blown fiberglass and the big pink blower.
Bibbs system?
Dunno, has the big old Pink Panther on the side so must be Owens Corning or whoever does that. Haven't seen a broken down machine in the back like I always see with the Cocoon blower.
wait until it's as old as the celulose machine.
wait until it's as old as the celulose machine.
No joke! The last cell machine I rented had GRAVEL in the hopper. the previous yaahoo must have been trying to use every scrap of cell and swept up some gravel along with the cell.jt8
"A little 'enthusiasm' and all problems seems small!"
Is it my imagination, or did the original poster of this thread disappear once everyone disagreed with him?
jt8
"A little 'enthusiasm' and all problems seems small!"
i saw some of the bags called attic cat
Another vote for cellulose.
and another vote for cellulose
Most house builders use fiber glass because its the cheapest to buy and install, but this also makes it the lowest performer.
At this stage in the homes life cell would be the best to use as it will reduce the air flow and insulate. Fiber glass works as a filter if not fully enclosed. Think Hvac filters.
Let's see.
OP- are you still out there?
Any decisions?
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I'am here, just trying to suck in all the info.
You know, Liking the second, third and more opinions.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Edited 7/21/2008 9:20 am ET by BruceS
First option: cellulose
Second option: see number one!