Benefits of Cellulose Attic Insulation

by DoItYourself Staff

One of most commonly argued topics among attic insulation experts is the use of cellulose attic insulation. There have been constant comparisons of cellulose insulation with fiberglass insulation. However, in terms of overall performance and affordability, cellulose insulation is the more sensible choice.

Understanding Attic Insulation Need

Most domestic attics have attic bypasses. Bypasses are concealed air passageways that continuously leak heat from the interiors of the house. Warm air has a tendency to rise. Thus, it continuously moves towards these bypasses. This causes loss of heat, which in turn increases the energy spent inside the house to keep the interiors warm. Therefore, heat lost through attic spaces adds to your energy bills. Damaged attics further reduce heat retention in the interior space by allowing colder air from the outside to enter the house.

Sometimes, water vapor is carried with the rising, warm air. This causes slow but continuous moisture seepage along the upper parts of the ceiling. The moisture tends to freeze during extremely cold conditions. The frozen water particles are also a deterrent to temperature maintenance within the house. The moisture causes damage to the upper ends of the walls, particularly roofs that have a wooden under-surface. Often, widespread structural damage in the form of peeling-away of paint and rotting of wooden ceiling liners is caused by this. Apart from bypasses, any kind of gapping along older, weathered attics can cause loss of heat. Some areas where attic insulation is commonly needed:

Dropped and false ceilings
Attic space having numerous plumbing/electrical entry points
Kitchen soffit
Chimney chaseways
Top-end of interior walls

Some notable advantages of using cellulose insulation in the attic follow.

Higher Thermal Resistance

Though cellulose insulation is often regarded as a budgeted form of attic insulation, it has been proven to offer better thermal resistance. Cellulose insulation more effective since it is made of natural fibers. These fibers are inherently equipped with better insulation properties. They are poor conductors of heat, ensuring that leakage of heat from the interiors is minimal. Further, cellulose layering doesn't need vinyl coating. The fibers are resistant to moisture seepage and cracking under frosting conditions. R-value is a measure of defining the energy insulation capability of an insulation material. R-values for cellulose insulation is higher than fiberglass insulation. In fact, fiberglass can lose some of its initial, retailed R-value when the weather gets extremely cold.

Ease-of-Installation

You should understand that spaces along walls and ceilings often present oddly-shaped cavities. The installation process becomes more demanding if the gap is surrounded by plumbing installations, wiring or air ducts. Thus, an insulation material that can be packed-in quickly with minimal room for entry of air bubbles is needed. Older home often have poorly-maintained attics wherein the insulation material needs to be systematically pressed into very deep or undulating voids. Cellulose insulation is perfect for such insulation needs. It is commonly installed in the loose-fill format wherein it can be poured and compressed into any kind of an opening.

If you need large-scale insulation, the process can be made easier with a blowing machine. Cellulose insulation material is retailed in easy-to-use spray packages that homeowners can use without any professional help. Fiberglass needs to be cut according to precise measurements, making it difficult for self-to-do home repairing projects.

Affordability

Fiberglass insulation is prepared from a more complex, industrial method that uses synthetic, glass fibers. These fibers are woven to form thin sheets that are then compressed together. Cellulose insulation material is essentially a recycled product. It is prepared from shredded paper and scraps that have plant resins. The recycled mix is treated with particular chemicals to render properties like insulation and durability. This fundamental difference between the two insulation materials makes cellulose a more affordable choice.