Attic Insulation Blown Or Batts

Batt insulation take time to read this column.

Attic insulation blown or batts.

When insulating an attic space many homeowners ask us which is better blown in or batt insulation. For the same reason insulation shouldn t touch the roof s underside. Compared to blown in insulation batts can reach a resistance rating r factor of over 3 1. It is not going to provide the same type of help for standard setups.

Blown in spray foam batts and blankets. The airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent keeps the roof cool and prevents ice dams and the material will block that flow. Before choosing blown vs. Although professional contractors like attic guys will aid you in making this decision we also feel that it is important for you to understand these insulation types and what makes them different.

You d need a thickness of. Current energy standards recommend the installation of a first layer of craft faced moisture barrier fiberglass batt. It also offers a little better thermal resistance than its counterpart. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards.

Blown in varieties however typically reach a peak of. Understanding insulation your options for attic insulation range from radiant barriers to sheets of mineral wool but most homeowners stick with products made from cellulose or fiberglass. I don t know about that but it s a common insulation material that works much better in the blown form than in batts. The photo above shows an attic insulated with blown cellulose.

That s because blown insulation is great at filling the gaps and giving you a good complete layer of insulation. You also don t see any gaps that allow you to see all the way down to the ceiling drywall. Since the attic usually does not have any wall on the other side this insulation makes some sense in that regard. We use both blown in and batt insulation depending on the situation at hand.

Notice how you don t see any of the ceiling framing down at the ceiling level. Batt insulation is easy to install and requires zero specialized tools to get the job done. 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. We offer our review of the three most popular types of attic insulation with a look at each one s pros and cons.

The answer is it depends. The material which is a combination of fiberglass and cellulose is blown in chunks to fill up space. The most common options are blown in insulation batts and rolls. Covering up the soffit vents with loose fill or batts which can happen if you stuff insulation along the eaves is a huge no no.

Blown in insulation requires a professional. With this method the insulation is simply blown onto the attic floor and no matter what type of joists studs or wiring that may be in play the blown insulation will naturally form itself tight around any of these creating a layer of strong insulation.